MPCB says no to sale, use of fire-crackers this Diwali
   Date :11-Nov-2020

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Staff Reporter :
 
Following the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Nagpur on Tuesday has issued letters to District Collector and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to impose complete ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in the city. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has listed 122 cities that normally have the air quality beyond norms.
 
Four cities of Vidarbha including Nagpur, Akola, Amravati and Chandrapur have been included in the list of non-attainment cities. The Tribunal has rolled the ball in the State Government and MPCB’s court to take decision for banning or not. Following the directions, MPCB imposed complete ban on sale and use of firecrackers in Nagpur as well as in other three cities of Vidarbha. “We have talked with District Collector and also the civic body regarding imposition of ban over firecrackers in the city. Now, the District Administration must have to take decision in this regard,” said A M Kare, Regional Officer, MPCB to The Hitavada.
 
The NGT order said, “It is a well-known fact that burning of the fire crackers releases copious amounts of harmful chemicals, which have severe impact on the respiratory health of vulnerable groups and such pollutants can further aggravate health conditions of COVID-19 positive persons besides persons staying in home isolation. Hence, complete ban is required on sale and bursting of firecrackers.” Nation-wide, the ban on firecrackers will be applicable to all cities and towns where the average ambient air quality in November last year was ‘poor’ or ‘worse’.
 
Only green crackers - considered to be less polluting - will be sold in cities and towns where air quality is ‘moderate’, the tribunal ordered also restricting the timing of use to two hours, as specified by the state, due to COVID-19. For other areas with better air quality, NGT has made the cracker ban optional, but directed States to initiate special drives to contain air pollution from all sources in view of COVID-19. The order also directs the Central and State Pollution Control Boards to regularly monitor compliance and compile air pollution data from November 9 to November 30 and put it on their websites and file a consolidated report.