Mumbai: A day after India’s Supreme Court banned the sale of fire crackers in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) until November 1, Maharashtra Environment Minister and Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam said he would also talk to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to also follow the apex court’s order for the state.
He told the media he would consult with the chief minister on whether “we can also ban crackers in Maharashtra, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling for Delhi.”
“The festivals in Maharashtra should be pollution-free. When we light fire [crackers] during Diwali, it causes pollution, affects human beings, shops are set ablaze and children also die. The high pollution has a bad effect on the atmosphere which is the reason why sometimes there is less rain.”
The apex court’s judgement on banning the sale of fire crackers on Monday has affected trade in Delhi and could affect sales here, too, though the court has not banned the bursting of fire crackers.
Traders in Mumbai, too, are worried by Kadam’s statement as Diwali is just a few days away and their stocks could go unsold due to such a decision by the government.
The bursting of firecrackers is a part of Diwali festivities, and there is a debate brewing as a ban like this could interfere with religious celebrations.
One section of the society says Diwali is a festival of lights and not of noise. Delhi is one of those regions where pollution levels rise drastically due to bursting of fire crackers.
Following the court order, well-known author Chetan Bhagat said in a series of tweets, expressing his displeasure, “Banning crackers during Diwali is like banning Christmas trees on Christmas and goats on Bakr-id [Eid Al Adha]. Regulate, don’t ban. Respect traditions.”
He also tweeted, “Why only guts to do this for Hindu festivals? Banning goat sacrifice and Muharram bloodshed too?”
For environmental activist Sumaira Abdulali fighting against noise pollution for years, this is a welcome move. She told Gulf News, “I support Ramdas Kadam’s statement that he would ban firecrackers in Maharashtra. As environment minister, it is his duty to take action to protect the environment, just as it is the duty of the Chief Minister to protect both the environment and people’s health against hazardous firecrackers.
“I hope that they will not only ban firecrackers, but will also ensure strict implementation of the ban.”
Whilst her organisation, Awaaz Foundation, will support such actions, “we will also be checking decibel levels and other compliance on the ground and request that Mumbaikars keep track of firecracker sale and use in their own areas, too.”
