Gearing up for Diwali, the Delhi government has written to Delhi Police and Customs Department to "strictly" enforce the ban on import and sale of firecrackers of foreign origin in the national capital, a move essentially aimed at reining in the Chinese fireworks menace.
Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had written to the police chief and Customs Commissioner, along with the relevant directions, on September 30.
The police were asked to take action in case of violations.
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The development comes days after Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) said possession and sale of fireworks of foreign origin, which is already a restricted item as far as import is concerned, were illegal in India and punishable under the law.
"There is no blanket ban as such as it will be applicable only on hazardous fireworks. But, most of such products which find their way into the country, mainly from China, exceed the prescribed norms. These letters could be seen as a mere reiteration," a DPCC scientist explained.
Manufacture, possession, usage and sale of any explosive containing sulphur or sulphurate in admixture with any chlorate is already banned in the country.
"Till date, no licence for import of fireworks has been granted under the Explosives Rules, 2008 by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, a subordinate office of DIPP," the DIPP had said.
Air pollution in Delhi breaches all prescribed limits during Diwali.
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