The Supreme Court on Friday said that the rise in air pollution is a "grave" problem and the measures required to deal with it should also be "drastic". Along with this, the court asked the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to impose a complete ban on firecrackers in their areas falling under the National Capital Region. A bench of Justice A S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan noted the fact that like Delhi, the Rajasthan government has also imposed a permanent and complete ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers in the NCR areas of the state and asked Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to do the same.

The bench said that till the two states pass orders, its earlier direction banning firecrackers will stand extended till the next date of hearing of the case on March 24.

Supreme Court is not ready for green crackers also

"Environmental problems are grave and hence stringent measures are required," the bench said, adding that the court will have to take action and pass stringent orders as other organs of the government are not bothered. The bench said it will also hear petitions against the ban on firms involved in manufacturing and selling firecrackers on the next date. When a lawyer requested the court to lift the blanket ban as it also concerns the fundamental rights of the manufacturers, the bench said environmental problems precede their issues. The lawyer then requested the court to at least allow green crackers. "We will have to examine how green the green crackers are," the bench said.

Instructions for ban in Uttar Pradesh-Haryana like Delhi

The Supreme Court has also asked the Centre to respond to the petitions filed by firecracker manufacturing firms. Earlier too, the court had directed the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to impose a complete ban on firecrackers till further orders. The bench had said that the Delhi government has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, storage and sale of firecrackers throughout the year, including through online marketing, with immediate effect. "We are of the view that this ban will be effective only when other states forming part of the NCR also impose similar measures. Even the State of Rajasthan has imposed a similar ban in that part of Rajasthan which falls in the NCR. For the time being, we direct the States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to impose a similar ban as has been imposed by the State of Delhi," the bench said. 

Concern was expressed during Diwali

Expressing serious concern over the high pollution levels in Delhi during Diwali, the apex court had earlier raised objections to the violation of court orders and said that its directions banning firecrackers were "hardly followed". The court was hearing a plea filed by M C Mehta in 1985 seeking directions to curb air pollution in the national capital and adjoining areas.