NEWS: NGT Expands Scope of Hearing in Case against the use of Firecracker in Delhi NCR

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Case: “Tribunal on its Own Motion”

The National Green Tribunal has decided to consider measures for improving air quality in as many as Delhi NCR as well as 18 States and Union Territories.

A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel took the decision to expand the scope of proceedings in batch of petitions seeking remedial action against pollution by use of firecrackers.

The Tribunal said:

“The scope of proceedings may need to be extended beyond NCR so as to suggest that in all the concerned states where air quality is not satisfactory may consider taking action on the pattern of action taken by the states of Odisha and Rajasthan.”

The Bench opined that it may have to consider a direction to prohibit the use of firecrackers during the period when the air quality index is beyond the threshold in 122 non-attainment cities.

The NGT has earlier issued and Notice to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Central Pollution Control Board in this matter, to which it has decided to examine the use of firecrackers, may be prohibited in NCR in the interest of public health and environment, from 7^th November till 30^th November 2020.

There are also directions of the Supreme Court with regards to the noise level of the firecrackers In RE: Noise Pollution- implementation of laws for Restricting use of Loudspeakers and High Volume Producing Sound Systems, (2005) 5 SCC 733.

Read Order: CLICK HERE