After Cracker Ban Fails Again, Delhi Police Blame People Who Burnt Crackers On Diwali

The last-minute plan to ban firecrackers in Delhi and the complete flouting of rules by the residents is seen as a reason behind the cracker ban that went up in fumes.

Sounds of firecrackers were continuously heard across Delhi and its neighbouring areas through the Saturday night even though a ban was imposed on their sale and use in the national capital region in view of the rising air pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pollution levels crossed the emergency threshold in Delhi-NCR region which woke up to the pungent smell of smoke on a hazy Sunday morning after Diwali.

BCCL

The action was taken in as many as 1,206 incidents in connection with bursting and illegal sale of firecrackers, while 1,314.42 kg of firecrackers were seized, according to the data shared by the city police.

The Delhi Police control room received around 2,000 calls related to the bursting of firecrackers on November 14. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had on Monday announced a total ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR) till November 30 midnight.

PTI

The Delhi government too had earlier this month imposed a total ban on all kinds of fireworks till November 30.

"Firecrackers were already sold in Delhi and then came the ban. People had purchased and stocked firecrackers in their houses as they wait for Diwali the entire year," another top police official told news agency PTI on the various hurdles in implementing the ban. Officials added that merely the ban is not enough, and residents must pledge to comply with the rules for the public good.