Chandigarh Administration mulls ban on sale of firecrackers

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 3

The city may witness a cracker-free Diwali this year. In view of the fear of a second surge of coronavirus due to increase in pollution, the UT Administration is considering imposing a ban on the sale of firecrackers in the city this festival season.

The Administration today put on hold the issuance of temporary licences for selling firecrackers in the city even after holding a draw of lots to issue 96 licences.

During a review meeting on the Covid-19 pandemic yesterday, UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore had appealed to residents to avoid a second surge of the virus at all cost.

“Doctors have opined that toxic air arising out of crackers is likely to affect the lungs and, hence, residents should avoid or minimise bursting of firecrackers during the festival season,” he said, adding that there was a need to keep the city pollution-free so that there was no resurgence of lung diseases or Covid cases.

UT Adviser Manoj Parida said they had sought the opinion of health experts on the ill-effects of air pollution on Covid patients. However, the final decision on the issue would be taken by the Administrator tomorrow, he added. The Rajasthan Government has already imposed a ban on the sale of firecrackers in order to protect infected patients.