The Bombay High Court on Friday reduced the timing of fireworks during Diwali to two hours and observed that there are some critical areas in Maharashtra’s capital city Mumbai where the air quality index (AQI) remains poor. Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Iqbal Chahal also appealed to citizens “with folded hands” to follow the court’s directive and burst firecrackers only between 8 pm and 10 pm during the festival.
A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice GS Kulkarni modified its order dated November 6 that set a limit for fireworks between 7 pm and 10 pm and reduced it further to two hours during the festival. The decision was taken after the bench noted Maharashtra’s capital city Mumbai was witnessing a dip in the bursting of firecrackers. “Let’s not become Delhi. Let’s remain Mumbaikars,” Chief Justice Upadhyaya was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
“We are in an emergent and drastic situation. A lot of efforts have been taken, but maybe something more needs to be done,” the court asserted, adding, “The time to burst crackers shall be limited from 8 pm to 10 pm.”
Considering the prevalent situation, it does not deem it appropriate to modify another direction in its November 6 order which had banned the entry of vehicles transporting debris in the city but permitted vehicles carrying construction materials to ply if they were fully covered, the bench said. “All other directions of the November 6 order shall continue to operate till November 19,” it said.
BMC Chief’s Message to Mumbaikars
Appealing to Mumbaikars, Chahal said in a video message, “I request that you all, with folded hands, follow the court’s directive and do not burst the crackers that will add to the air and noise pollution.” He added that citizens had responded positively to his appeals during the Covid-19 pandemic, and this time too he hopes that they will follow the court’s directive.
Air pollution has become an issue in the city due to dust from construction activities and other factors, he said, adding that the BMC has taken various steps to improve the situation. Though the Chief Minister has made it a people’s movement, it will not succeed unless all citizens of Mumbai participate in it, Chahal added.
The BMC has given developers one month to acquire sprinklers and fogging machines at construction sites and warned of strict action against violators. The BMC has sent notices to several contractors and builders on the implementation of the 27-point guidelines, which it issued last month in light of the declining air quality in the city.
(with inputs from PTI)
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