Crackers ban: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday imposed a total ban on the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR from midnight of November 9 to midnight of November 30. The cracker-ban will also apply to cities and towns in the country where air quality during November falls under the ‘poor’ and above category. 

The ban has been imposed in view of rising air pollution amid a surge of coronavirus cases in the national capital, which recorded 7,745 cases in the last 24 hours.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel clarified that the direction will apply to all cities and towns in the country where the average of ambient air quality during November (as per available data of last year) fell under the ‘poor’ and above categories.

“At other places, ban/restrictions are optional for the authorities but if there are more stringent measures under orders of the authorities, the same will prevail,” the bench said.

The tribunal directed all states and union territories to initiate drives to contain air pollution from all sources in view of the potential of aggravation of COVID-19.

Earlier on November 2, the NGT had issued a notice to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and four state governments on whether the use of firecrackers be banned from November 7-30 in the interest of public health and environment. The tribunal was hearing various pleas seeking action against pollution by use of firecrackers during the time air quality is unsatisfactory with the potential of the severity of COVID-19 pandemic.

The order will be applicable to more than 2 dozen districts across four states that are a part of the National Capital Region (NCR).

Mean-while, India on Monday reported 45,903 new cases of the novel coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours. The caseload in the country now stands at 85,53,657. With 490 new deaths, the death toll in the country mounted to 1,26,611. There are a total of 5,09,673 active cases after a decrease of 2,992 cases in the last 24 hours. A total of 79,17,373 have cured from the disease, while 48,405 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours.Amid growing backlash from the opposition BJP, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that his government will soon reopen places of worship across the state after Diwali and is ready to face any criticism for the welfare of his state till then. The chief minister also urged citizens to avoid burning firecrackers and continue wearing masks during the festive period. In a public address via video-conferencing, Thackeray said: “We will open the temples and places of worship soon. Let Diwali be over. But even when we open the temples, you can leave your chappals [slippers] outside but not your mask.”

Also, the twin factors of rising air pollution and a surge in Covid cases have increased the burden on Delhi’s hospitals with the number of vacant beds shrinking fast and outpatient departments (OPDs) witnessing a spike in footfall, doctors told news agency PTI on Saturday.