States with Firecracker Restrictions/ Ban -Diwali 2021.

States with Firecracker ban or Restrictions, The Hinduism-Spin-Politics are arising before Diwali and Chatt puja festivals. 

India is the 3rd most air polluted country after Bangladesh and Pakistan in the world and is the home of some of the most air-polluted cities in the world too.

Having this knowledge and the devastating experience of being among the worst-hit countries by the Covid-19 in the last two years, some of the states in India have decided to take vital actions towards not letting the situation worsen during the upcoming festivals by the pollution caused by firecrackers. 

States with Firecracker Restrictions or Ban

Delhi

Delhi is always in the news relating to its air pollution crisis and degrading air quality every year; in the wake of this situation, The AAP government of the state has applied a complete ban on the storage, sale, and use of all types of firecrackers till January 1, 2022. 

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government had also banned the complete sales and bursting of the crackers in the state from 1st October 2021 to 31st January 2022.

The state government had said that this ban would help avoid further respiratory problems and immune issues to the patients suffering from Covid-19. Further, the government had also pointed out the harmful effects of firecracker’s smoke on the elderly, asthma patients and other comorbidities.

But the Rajasthan government then changed its mind. It allowed the bursting and sales of ‘green crackers’ in the entire state, except the area of NCR, allowing the use of firecrackers from 8 Pm to 10 Pm on Diwali and other festivals. 

Odisha 

Odisha has also banned the use and sale of fireworks within the state in October and near Diwali. The government takes this effort as a part of the continuing COVID-19 lockdown guidelines.

Uttar Pradesh

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, unlike last year, hasn’t made any announcement regarding the firecracker ban this year. Still, there will be a blanket ban in the city of Agra in the first week of November, taking into consideration its adverse impact on the air quality around the city.

Haryana

Haryana government also imposed a complete ban on bursting and sales of firecrackers in its 14 districts. The deteriorating air quality in the region during this time of the year stubble burning is the leading cause of the action.

Assam 

Assam puts a blanket ban on firecrackers during the time of Diwali in the state. The government has only allowed the ‘green crackers’ for 2 hrs from 8 pm to 10 pm during Diwali.

The allowed time for the bursting of crackers in the state on Chhath Puja is from 6 am to 8 am and on Christmas and New Year’s Eve is from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am. 

Bihar 

In Bihar, Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali, the State Pollution Control Board has decided to put a complete ban on the use and sales of firecrackers during this Diwali, like last year.

On the other hand, ‘Green’ or ‘eco-friendly crackers’ are allowed in the other towns of the state.

Hinduism-Spin-Politics Fire Crackers Ahead of Diwali and Chatt puja. 

India had seen an enormous oxygen crisis during the second wave of Covid-19 this year. More than millions of people die in India due to issues relating to the toxic air of air pollution. 

With the knowledge of such studies and the recent experience of the increasing destruction by climate change, some authorities, instead of promoting clean environment actions, are taking its political advantages by opposing the motion by giving them a religious angle. 

Like every year, several states have ordered a partial or complete ban on firecrackers by considering the degradation of the air quality and the ongoing Covid-19 situation. Still, some politicians are opposing this movement calling it a ‘bulldoze’ on the Hindu festivals.

The BJP MP Manoj Tiwari advised the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAM government in Delhi should consider starting a campaign to promote ‘green crackers’ instead of putting a complete ban on the use and sales of firecrackers.

He further raised questions on the government’s intention behind the action, “concerns only when it comes to the festivals of Hindus”, he argued, and one said that one shouldn’t “bulldoze matters of faith”. 

“Have you seen a single AAP minister holding such meetings ahead of Bakr-e-Eid?” The BJP MP further added, calling the strategic ban on firecrackers to prevent more airborne issues’ irrational’. 

Meanwhile, Gopal Rai, The Delhi Environment Minister, has explained Diwali as a festival of “diyas and not crackers”.