The Supreme Court is taking a big step to fight pollution. They are reminding everyone about their decision from 2021, which says we should use firecrackers that are not harmful to the environment. This rule used to only apply to Delhi and nearby areas, but now it’s for all of India. When they were talking about this in court, the judges said something important. They mentioned that it’s mostly grown-up people who use fireworks, not kids. And they want everyone to understand that it’s everyone’s job to take care of our environment.
The Supreme Court recently looked into a request from the Rajasthan government to enforce a ban on firecrackers that contain harmful chemicals like barium salts. This ban is meant to reduce air and noise pollution, especially during festive times. Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh, who are part of the judge group handling the case, said there’s no need for new rules. They emphasized that Supreme Court orders apply to the whole country, and Rajasthan should follow the existing guidelines.
Banning Barium Salts
In 2021, the Supreme Court said that even though fireworks weren’t completely banned, those with barium salts were not allowed. The court was worried that people were not following this rule properly and warned that high-ranking officials could be personally responsible for any violations.
Regulating Firecrackers
Back in 2018, the Supreme Court already made rules about when you can use firecrackers. They said you can only set them off between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali and between 11:55 pm and 12:30 am on New Year’s and Christmas. This helped reduce the problems caused by long celebrations with fireworks.
In a recent court hearing, the judges reminded everyone that they had already given clear instructions on how to reduce air and noise pollution. These instructions apply to all states, including Rajasthan. The court told Rajasthan to take all the necessary steps to reduce pollution, not only during festivals but also afterward.
Taking Responsibility During Festivals
During festivals, there’s a lot of noise and air pollution in Rajasthan. The people who filed the case asked the Udaipur government to take specific actions, especially because of the weddings happening there.
In response, the lawyer representing Rajasthan said that every person should use fewer fireworks on Diwali. The judges agreed and mentioned that kids are using fewer fireworks now, but adults are still using them.
The Supreme Court is reminding everyone to use “green” fireworks. This means we all need to be more aware of our actions to reduce pollution during festivals and beyond. We should all work together to protect the environment for the future.
