Complete Ban on Firecrackers | 21 Dec 2024

Recently, the Supreme Court directed the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments to impose a complete ban on firecrackers in National Capital Region (NCR) areas until further orders.

Call for Complete Ban:
- The SC directed the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to clarify their stance on imposing a year-round firecracker ban in the National Capital Region (NCR).
- The court emphasized the need for the ban to address both air pollution and noise pollution.
Current Status and Measures:
- A complete ban on firecrackers currently applies only around Diwali and New Year.
- Delhi has enforced a year-round ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and online delivery of firecrackers.
- Rajasthan has also imposed a similar ban in areas falling under the NCR.
Enforcement of Anti-Pollution Measures:
- The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 4 was enforced in Delhi-NCR due to worsening air quality.
  - NCR states were directed to form teams of officials to ensure strict adherence to GRAP measures.
- These teams will function as officers of the Supreme Court, reporting compliance and breaches to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

The GRAP consists of emergency measures designed to prevent the deterioration of air quality after reaching specific thresholds in the Delhi-NCR region.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notified the GRAP in 2017.
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) implements the GRAP.