6 months jail for bursting firecrackers on Diwali: Delhi Environment Minister

Bursting of firecrackers on Diwali in Delhi will attract jail term up to six months and a fine of Rs 200, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday.

Production, storage and sale of firecrackers in capital will be punishable with a fine of up to Rs 5,000 and three years jail under Section 9B of Explosives Act, minister told a press conference here.

In September, city government re-imposed a complete ban on production, sale and use of all s of firecrackers till January 1, including on Diwali, a practice it has been following for last two years.

Rai said a public awareness campaign -- Diye Jalao Patakhe Nahi (light diyas, not firecrackers) -- will be launched on October 21.

Delhi government will light 51,000 diyas at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday.

" purchase and bursting of firecrackers in Delhi will be punishable with a fine of Rs 200 and six months in jail under Indian Penal Code," minister said.

Rai said 408 teams have been set up to implement ban.

Delhi Police has set up 210 teams under assistant commissioners of police, while Revenue Department has constituted 165 teams and Delhi Pollution Control Committee 33.

minister said 188 cases of violations have been detected and 2,917 kg firecrackers seized till October 16.  air quality in Delhi and neighbouring areas start worsening in October due to unfavourable meteorological factors such as low temperatures and wind speed, which do not allow dispersion of pollutants.

A cocktail of emissions from firecrackers and stubble burning in neighbouring states furr dent air quality.  "Pollution levels rise around Diwali every year. major reason is bursting of firecrackers. Emissions from firecrackers are extremely dangerous especially for kids, women and elderly.

"refore, Delhi government has imposed a complete ban on production, sale and use of all s of firecrackers this year too. ban covers online delivery of firecrackers," minister said.

Rai urged Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yav to ensure ban on firecrackers is strictly implemented in entire NCR "as smoke from firecrackers burst in region impacts people in Delhi also".    Besides Delhi, Haryana h also imposed a ban on sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers in 14 of its districts in National Capital Region last year, while Uttar Presh h allowed use of green crackers on Diwali just for two hours in areas with moderate or better air quality.

Despite restrictions, people burst firecrackers till late night in Delhi, Noida, Faridab and Gurugram.

Fireworks h led to major changes in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in Delhi on Diwali night (November 4), according to DPCC.

Emissions from firecrackers and farm fires h pushed capital's 24-hour average air quality index for day after Diwali to 462, highest in five years. 

Image: @AapKaGopalRai