GUWAHATI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notice to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and at least four state governments on whether the use of firecrackers needed to be banned from November 7-30 in the interest of public health and environment.
The four states were Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
On Monday, responding to a plea, an NGT bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel sought response from the ministry, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Police Commissioner of Delhi and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
NGT was taking up a plea by the Indian Social Responsibility Network seeking action against pollution by use of firecrackers in NCR during the time air quality is unsatisfactory with the potential of the severity of COVID19 pandemic.
The application referred to the statement of the Union Health Minister and the Health Minister of Delhi that during the festive season there will be a rise of COVID-19 cases due to air pollution.
The plea highlighted that increase in pollution may further affect the vulnerable groups and increases the fatality rate in COVID19 cases in Delhi.
