Supreme Court bans sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR

New Delhi is among the world's most polluted cities, and its air quality worsens around Diwali, due to smoke from crackers and crops burnt in nearby states

The Supreme Court on Friday banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and the NCR region after air pollution increased at an alarming rate, covering the national capital in a blanket of smog in the days following Diwali celebrations this year. 
 

New Delhi ranks among the world's most polluted cities, with air quality usually worsening during Diwali, when smoke from firecrackers and crops burnt in nearby states envelops the city of 16 million.
 

According to an IndiaSpend analysis of national data, India’s air quality was among the world’s worst and between 40% and 100% worse in five north Indian cities than at the same time the preceding year.

 

The court has asked the Delhi government to suspend the licencses of all sellers of firecrackers in the region.

According to a Times of India report, the apex court had earlier issued an order asking the central government to stop issuing fresh licenses to sellers. It had also asked the Centre to suspend exiisting licenses to tackle the pollution crisis facing the national capital.