Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam said his department was mulling the move to ensure Diwali remained free of air and noise pollution.
Mumbai and Maharashtra may see a ban on firecrackers after Supreme Court banned them in the National Capital Region, citing extreme pollution levels. Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam said his department was mulling the move to ensure Diwali remained free of air and noise pollution.
"I will discuss the issue with our party president Uddhavji Thackeray and then with the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before taking a final call," Kadam said.
At present, the state has banned only those crackers that cause noise pollution. Every year, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board conducts a test to determine which crackers are to be banned. If Kadam has his way, almost all crackers causing air and noise pollution may face ban in Maharashtra.
"While Mumbai's pollution is not like Delhi, we don't want to wait till the situation worsens," Kadam said.
He added, "Initially, we will focus on creating awareness among people. We are asking schools and colleges to administer oaths to students exhorting them to not burst firecrackers this Diwali."
He pointed that pollution led to major health issues including cancer and asthma. "So many people go out of Mumbai during Diwali only to avoid the pollution. We need to take up this initiative voluntarily," said the Sena minister.
He clarified that he is not against celebrating festivals, but is concerned about how it affects the health of the citizens.
Kadam, however, could face opposition from within party from Sena MP and editor of the Sena mouthpiece Sanjay Raut, who has expressed his displeasure over the cracker ban. "People's livelihood depends on the sale and manufacture of firecrackers. They are sold not just in India, but across the world," Raut said.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray too jumped into the controversy, asking why courts always interfere with celebration of festivals. "Should we burst firecrackers over WhatsApp now?" he asked.
Advocate Abhay Parab, who had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court demanding a complete ban on the sale and bursting of crackers in residential areas, said as per the Central Explosive Act, a complete ban on the sale of fire crackers in the residential areas already exists.
"Besides, Bombay High Court in 2015 had passed a judgement saying that the sale of the fire crackers in Maharashtra should be stopped," he said. "It has also said that no fire sale license should be issued by the government. However, the government has violated the respective court order; the ban exists only on paper. We have moved HC against this and a final hearing is scheduled on October 25."
Meanwhile, aggrieved traders in Delhi's oldest wholesale market — Sadar Bazaar — held a protest at the Qutub Road and stopped the traffic for more than an hour. Demanding a relaxation of at least 10 days, the traders also burst crackers on streets.
"Where do we go with this stock worth crores? We have no choice but to burn these crackers. The government should allow us to sell our stock till October 21, as mentioned in the licenses that we were issued. Otherwise, we will step up our protest," said Harjit Singh Chhabra, Head of the Sadar Nishkarm Welfare Association.
"We will hold a massive protest at the Qutub Road on Wednesday evening," he said. Nearly 500 temporary licences, 24 of them in Sadar Bazaar, were issued in Delhi-NCR.
Oppn within party
Ramdas Kadam, however, could face opposition from within the party. Sena MP and editor of the party mouthpiece Sanjay Raut has expressed his displeasure over the ban on firecracker
— With inputs from Fareeha Iftikhar
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