Panel set up to check fire-crackers at weddings: HC told

To ensure stringent norms for bursting fire-crackers during the wedding season and other celebrations are adhered to, the AAP government has constituted a committee, the Delhi High Court was informed on Wednesday.

Filing an affidavit before the court, the Delhi government said to review standards of fire-crackers during events like celebrations and wedding etc., a committee has been constituted.

"In order to review standards of fire-crackers during events like celebrations and wedding etc. a committee has been constituted consisting of members from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), IIT Bombay, Central pollution Control Board, West Bengal Pollution Control Board and officers from government of Delhi and Delhi Police (licensing)," said the affidavit filed by special secretary (environment) of the Delhi government's department of environment and forests.

"The first meeting was fixed for February 3, 2016. The objective of this excercise is to make stringent the norms for bursting of fire crackers," said the affidavit.

The government's response came after a division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva directed the Delhi government to come up with a policy to regulate bursting of fire-crackers during the wedding season and festival season.

It had asked government to try to dissuade people from excessive use of fire-crackers, through electronic and print media as it is for the safety of the citizens themselves.

The government also said the air pollution of Delhi is "part of air shed which covers neighbouring states".

The department also suggested that to achieve effective result on pollution in Delhi, it is essential that neighbouring states and the Central government also enforce measures relating to pollution control norms.

"Expedite completion of eastern and western expressway, pollution control in industries, brick kilns and power plants, agricultural residue burning, construction activities in neighbouring states and early introduction of Euro V or Euro VI norms compliant fuel and vehicles," the government said, suggesting a few measures to be undertaken by neighbouring states.

The bench took up the issue of air pollution in the city as a suo motu PIL in 2015 after a study released by World Health Organization, saying Delhi was the most polluted city in the world.

The matter would come up hearing on Thursday.