• Source:IANS
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The Delhi government on Monday imposed a comprehensive ban on the manufacturing, sale, purchase and use of firecrackers in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi until January 1, 2025. The ban, announced on Monday, is part of Delhi’s ongoing efforts to combat rising air pollution levels during the winter months when the Air Quality Index (AQI) typically worsens.

Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai outlined the ban, which applies to both physical and online sales of firecrackers. In a letter addressed to the Delhi Police Commissioner, the Environment Ministry called for strict enforcement of the ban. 

"The Government of NCT of Delhi has decided to impose Complete Ban on manufacturing, storage, selling on all kinds of firecrackers and bursting thereof up to January 1, 2025 in the territory of NCT of Delhi," the letter read.

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To ensure compliance, the letter also mandated that daily action reports be submitted to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee via email. Minister Gopal Rai has urged Delhi residents to cooperate fully with the government’s measures to improve air quality.

The ban comes as part of the broader effort to address the worsening pollution levels in Delhi, which have already begun to rise ahead of the winter season. After the Dussehra festival, the AQI in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) surpassed 200, pushing air quality into the "poor" category.

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Earlier, on October 9, Gopal Rai had revealed that ground inspections conducted as part of the government’s 21-point Winter Action Plan found multiple agencies guilty of negligence in their handling of construction-related pollution. As a result, the government held a meeting with agencies to discuss stricter enforcement of pollution control measures, including the potential implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) if conditions do not improve.