Diwali is around the corner and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on November 4 issued notices to 18 states including Assam on prohibiting firecrackers expanding the scope of pleas filed before it.
Following the order, states like Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Orissa and West Bengal have put a ban on firecrackers this Diwali.
However, the Assam government on Saturday informed that they cannot ban firecrackers this Diwali.
“Bursting of firecrackers would not harm anything. We cannot ban firecrackers during Diwali. People can burst firecrackers which cannot affect the environment but bursting of firecrackers polluting the environment will not be allowed,” Assam Environment Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said.
However, the Pollution Control Board, Assam on Saturday issued a notification urging the public to avoid bursting fire-crackers keeping in view the pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic. The board cited that the fact that the use of fire-crackers can impact severely on the health of COVID patients.
Meanwhile, the people associated with the Barpeta fireworks industry said that firecrackers should not be banned in the state as a huge industry is associated with it.
Meanwhile, a major portion of the youths are of the opinion that fireworks should not be banned in the state and the places with high pollution-level should use fewer crackers.
But, with the COVID-19 virus still a big threat in the state and people losing their lives to the virus on a daily level- Should bursting firecrackers be more important than health? Should Firecrackers be banned in the state this Diwali owing to COVID-19?
