Delhi NCR flouted NGT's complete ban on bursting firecrackers

Millions of people celebrated Diwali in Delhi NCR by bursting a variety of firecrackers in violation of the National Green Tribunal's order.

The Tribunal on November 10 imposed a "total ban against sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in the NCR from midnight of November, 9 - 10, 2020 to the midnight of November 30."

Reports from other cities, where a similar ban was imposed, also suggest a complete non-compliance due to festive fervor.

The NGT's ban aimed at keeping air pollution under control in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was argued that Covid-19 is a respiratory disease and firecrackers could further aggravate the air quality leading to adverse health impact.

Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map at 11:30 PM on November 14 shows that air quality in various locations in Delhi has deteriorated to hazardous status with PM 2.5 ranging from 400 to 999 at various places.

The situation is equally bad in NCR regions such as Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Agra, etc where the AQI has also touched the hazardous level.

Health experts say that public health emergency has already been declared in Delhi since November 1 due to poor air quality and bursting of firecrackers have created a grim situation for everyone especially people who are suffering from various respiratory disease.

Experts say that Delhi has already in the grip of it Covid-19 and the worsening air quality might prove disastrous and escalate the infections.

Besides Covid-19, worse air quality can cause several other diseases that include allergies, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.