Page 52 - 31MAR2019E

environment

Automobiles pollute ban on use of firecrackers the festive season.
When the bench referred
across the country on the
to issue of job loss of people
ground that it gives rise to
more thAn firecrAckers pollution. involved in manufacture
The apex court had last year
and sale of crackers, the ASG
said people in the country
of green crackers came.”
can burst firecrackers only said, “That is why the concept
The apex court has grilled the Center over loss of from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali Shankaranarayanan also said
jobs of people involved in manufacture and sale of and other festivals, and had there is no direction from
firecrackers, reports Tehelka Bureau allowed the manufacture and the apex court to stop manu-
sale of only “green crackers” facturing firecrackers. The
which have low emission bench was also told the issue
of light, sound and harmful of pollution caused due to crop
chemicals. During the hearing burning is also pending in the
on Tuesday, the ASG told the court along with a separate is-
bench that the Petroleum and sue of vehicular pollution and
Explosives Safety Organisation hybrid vehicle.
(PESO) and other expert agen- The bench, which posted
cies were experimenting and the matter for further hearing
they have come up with com- on April 3, told the ASG that he
position of “green crackers”. would have to make submis-
Regarding the use of sions in the case region-wise
barium nitrate, which was as there are areas where
earlier banned by the apex crackers can be used. The
court, Nadkarni said, “Barium counsel appearing for fire-
was banned in firecrackers by crackers manufacturers said
hy people were for the Centre. the Ministry of Environment, PESO and other expert bodies
“running after” The top court said, “You Forest and Climate Change have already come up with
firecracker in- must tell us some way of pre- and the Supreme Court also composition of green crackers.
W dustries when it venting unemployment also. banned it. It was used only for The PESO last week told the
seems that automobiles were We cannot have people unem- testing purpose to check pol- apex court that it has finalised
“bigger” contributor to pollu- ployed and hungry. There are lution from crackers.” “improved formulations” for
tion? This is the question that areas where firecrackers can He referred to the minutes green firecrackers and prod-
the Supreme Court has asked be used. We cannot give them of meeting of the Council of uct approvals will be given to
the Centre, asking it to provide (those who have lost jobs) Scientific and Industrial Re- manufacturers by March 21.
any comparative study on pol- money. We cannot support search (CSIR) and the National The apex court last year also
lution caused by both. their families. Unemployment Environmental Engineering banned the manufacture, sale
While expressing serious is there,” the bench said. It also Research Institute (NEERI) and use of joined firecrackers
concern over loss of jobs of raised a question as to how and said it has been envisaged (series crackers or ‘laris’) say-
people involved in manu- manufacture of firecrackers that product approval for the ing they cause “huge air, noise
facture and sale of firecrack- could be stopped if the trade is improved formulation shall be and solid waste problems”.
ers, a bench of Justices S A legal and people have licence given by PESO by March 21 this It had said noise and smoke
Bobde and S A Nazeer said, to carry out the business. year. “A meeting in this regard emission limits of the crackers
“We do not wish to generate “Nobody has tested this in is scheduled tomorrow. Once will have to be approved by
unemployment.” relation to Article 19 (which the formulation comes and if PESO, a body under the Minis-
“Is there any comparative says all citizens shall have there is any objection, then it try of Commerce and Industry.
study on what proportion of the right to practise any will be dealt with,” he said. To curb pollution in Delhi-
pollution is caused by fire- profession, or to carry on any Advocate Gopal Shankara- NCR, the court had directed
crackers and what proportion occupation, trade or business). narayanan, appearing for the the Centre, Delhi government
is caused by automobiles? It If the trade is legal and you petitioner who has raised the and the state governments
seems you are running after have the licence for this, then issue of air and noise pollu- of NCR to permit community
firecrackers, but bigger pol- how can you stop this? How tion from firecrackers, said fire-cracking (for Diwali and
lution contributor is perhaps can you leave people unem- around 2.5 per cent of annual other festivals), wherever it
vehicles,” the bench told Ad- ployed?” the bench observed. pollution in Delhi-National could be done.
ditional Solicitor General A N S The court was hearing a plea Capital Region is due to use of
Nadkarni, who was appearing which has sought a complete crackers for a few days during letters@tehelka.com

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