The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to comply with the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposing curbs on bursting of firecrackers on Diwali. The government has asked the people to promote celebration of this festival through digital and laser technology. 

This resolution has been adopted by the administration in the wake of the continuously deteriorating air quality across the state. 

While the government communiqué mentions 13 cities for complete ban on crackers in view of poor air quality, in other districts, green crackers will be allowed to celebrate the festival. Interestingly, till Monday, there was ban on only certain categories of firecrackers in Lucknow but now the government has put the state capital also in the complete ban category.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said, “The NGT’s order is a detailed one and we will comply with it. The air quality is deteriorating and steps have to be taken to address the issue.” 

He said that cities including Lucknow, Varanasi, Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Noida, Greater Noida, Baghpat, Kanpur Nagar, Bulandshahr and Moradabad, which were placed in the poor air quality category by the NGT may go for a complete ban on the use of crackers during Diwali.  

Awasthi said that directions in this regard had already been issued to all senior officers, including IGs, DIGs, district magistrates, commissioners and district police chiefs and they had been asked to strictly comply with the NGT guidelines regarding firecrackers. 

The additional chief secretary said that the people should celebrate this Diwali with digital and laser technology. 

A senior official said that the district magistrates of other cities would take decisions on this issue, keeping in mind the pollution level in their respective districts but only green crackers would be allowed. 

Though the restrictions and ban on bursting firecracker may dull the festivities and celebrations this Diwali, it was an effective step to reduce the towering levels of air pollution in the state, the officer added.