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In a shockingly high-handed move, the Karnataka High Court has directed the Karnataka state government to impose a complete ban on the sale and usage of all kinds of firecrackers.
The High Court has asked the government to take this decision keeping in mind the public health issues and environmental considerations.
The High Court has urged the government to take the decision within the next three months.
Last year, during Deepavali, the Karnataka government had permitted the sale and bursting of ‘green firecrackers’ by licensed shops in the state. Other states too had permitted ‘green firecrackers’, and had mandated a time-slot for the citizens to burst the firecrackers.
According to an official statement released by the Karnataka government at the time, ‘green firecrackers’ do not contain harmful chemicals, thereby reducing air pollution due to firecrackers considerably. They are also less harmful in comparison to conventional firecrackers. They are available as sparklers, flowerpots and maroons in the market.
The government had also clarified that the recommended ‘green firecrackers’ are manufactured as per the guidelines and formulations developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Environment and Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) lab and product approval for the new formation is given by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation.