Uttar Pradesh bans sale, use of firecrackers in 13 pollution-hit districts; check list

While India gets ready to celebrate the colour of lights Deepawali, several states and UT governments have decided to impose a ban on firecrackers and its sale ahead due to the increasing air pollution and coronavirus crisis in the country.

Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday imposed a blanket ban on the sale and use of all types of firecrackers this Diwali, starting from today (November 10) midnight to November 30-December 1 midnight.

The government also said that the order will be reviewed after the completion of this time period.

The ban will be enforced in 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad among others.

However, the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in the state has also said that only green firecrackers can be sold and used in the districts with 'moderate' or better air quality.  

The order in this regard was issued by Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi in accordance with instructions issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to various states ahead of Diwali festival.

UP districts under firecracker ban

According to the order, the ban on sale and use of firecrackers will apply to Lucknow, Muzzafarnagar, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut, Hapur, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Moradabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Baghpat and Bulandshahr.

Prior to Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Odisha had imposed a ban on the sale and use of firecrackers.

Haryana government has permitted the sale and use of firecrackers during a two-hour window on Diwali. Similarly, states such as Maharashtra and West Bengal have advised citizens not to burst firecrackers since it would add to air pollution.