‘COVID-19 situation can aggravate due to air pollution’
*Different teams to ensure implementation of NGT order
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 9: Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is going to permit sale of only green crackers with effect from November 10, 2020 to January 1, 2021 and restrict bursting time to two hours on Diwali and other festivals in order to check adverse impact of pollution on the health of human beings particularly during the prevailing COVID-19 situation.
The order will be issued tomorrow in the light of the detailed judgment passed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Bench comprising its Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Sheo Kumar Singh (Judicial Member), Dr Satyawan Singh Garbyal and Dr Nagin Nanda (Expert Members).
The NGT, in Tribunal on its Own Motion Versus Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change case, has taken the view that air pollution aggravates COVID-19 as such not only crackers are to be banned/restricted depending upon air quality but the States/ Union Territories and Pollution Control Boards are required to take special initiative to contain air pollution by regulating all other sources to pollution.
“There is a need to restrict sale and use of fire crackers in areas with moderate and poor air quality where also on account of COVID-19 there will be serious adverse effects, though less than areas where air quality is poor and above”, the NGT said, adding “in such areas unless covered by the ban or restrictions by the authorities, the restrictions on the pattern of those imposed by the Supreme Court vide order dated October 23, 2018 will apply”.
The NGT has ordered that the cities/towns where air quality is ‘moderate’ or below only green crackers be sold and the timings for use and bursting of crackers be restricted during festivals like Diwali, Christmas and New Year as may be specified by the concerned State or Union Territory.
Keeping in view the explicit directives of the National Green Tribunal, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to pass appropriate order tomorrow. “The Government will permit the sale of only green crackers from November 10 to January 1, 2021 in Jammu and Srinagar urban areas and restrict the crackers bursting to two hours”, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
The sale of only green crackers in Jammu and Srinagar urban areas will be allowed as these areas have ‘moderate’ or ‘below’ air quality, they further said, adding “through the formal order the Government will issue instructions to the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police to ensure strict enforcement of NGT directives”.
Moreover, different teams are likely to be constituted to ensure implementation of order and Pollution Control Board will monitor the intensity of air pollution on Diwali and forward the report to the Central Pollution Control Board in the light of latest order of the NGT.
It is pertinent to mention here that green crackers do not contain banned chemicals such as lithium and arsenic, barium and lead. They are called Safe Water Releaser (SWAS), Safe Thermite Cracker (STAR) and Safe Minimal Aluminium (SAFAL) crackers.
As per CSIR, green crackers have “less dangerous” and “less harmful” chemicals than conventional ones and a green logo as well as a Quick Response (QR) coding system are put on the same for differentiating from conventional ones.
“Now, it is to be seen how the administration will be able to ensure strict enforcement of NGT directives as even after the passing of judgment by the Supreme Court on the subject in the year 2018 there was no control on bursting of harmful and dangerous crackers”, sources said while disclosing that non-green firecrackers have already flooded the markets and large number of people have even purchased the same till date.
Few days back, the Chief Secretary of J&K UT had asked the district administrations and Police Department to maintain close vigil and take pro-active preventive and enforcement actions to deal with the entry of foreign made fireworks through improper channels.
He had further directed them to ensure that strict vigil is maintained and all entities associated with the manufacture, stocking and sale of firecrackers are inspected for ensuring compliance with applicable laws and rules.
Moreover, directions were issued for prompt detection of illegal stocking, possession and attempted sale of imported firecrackers and dealing with them in an exemplary manner to ensure that the sale of such illegally imported fire crackers does not take place.
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