DMs to designate sale spots in city

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s order allowing the use of green firecrackers in the national capital during Diwali and urged residents to follow the directions “word by word.”

The Minister also announced that district magistrates (DMs) will designate specific places for the sale of green firecrackers in Delhi. Addressing a press conference, Sirsa emphasised that manufacturers must ensure no prohibited firecrackers enter the Delhi-NCR markets. He appealed to residents to use only green crackers and follow the court’s conditions strictly.

“The Supreme Court has relaxed the ban on green firecrackers in the Capital with certain conditions. Sale of green firecrackers will be permitted from October 18 to 21. Bursting of such firecrackers will be confined from 6 am to 7 am, and from 8 pm to 10 pm on the eve of Diwali and Diwali day,” he said.

While debriefing about a meeting with government departments, Sirsa said, “We convened a meeting with all departments and all stakeholders related to firecrackers to ensure compliance of SC order allowing green firecrackers this Diwali.”

He said: “Special CP Ravinder Yadav, Divisional Commissioner, Secretary Environment, DPCC chairman, Joint CP and Additional Commissioner met all stakeholders related to firecrackers. We discussed the SC order with them and informed that they can sell firecrackers from October 18-20. We told them that QR codes will be there on green crackers. We also informed them how temporary licences would be given.”

He said: “We requested them to inform customers about the timings of sale and bursting of green firecrackers. They assured us that they will make every effort to comply with the court order.”

Meanwhile, Delhi’s worsening air quality remains a concern as Diwali approaches. On Wednesday morning, Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 201, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. Anand Vihar registered the worst air quality at 347, followed by Wazirpur at 296. According to forecast from the Environmental Weather Services (EWS), the AQI is expected to reach 346 by Friday evening.

Owing to the rising pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas had imposed Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-1).

Residents in polluted zones are advised to wear masks and stay indoors as much as possible. Health experts have cautioned against outdoor walking, jogging, or exercising due to the presence of toxic pollutants in the air.