Gandhinagar: Nitin Patel, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat today hinted that Gujarat will witness no blanket ban on bursting Diwali crackers. In reply to a question asked by scribes here today afternoon, Nitin Patel said the order by National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding crackers was being studied by Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the State government.

He said, “I believe, it doesn’t impact Gujarat much. As per primary observation, the cities with high rate of pollution, the cities that are in red index have attracted strict instructions by NGT, while for others the restrictions are lighter.”

Patel said more details will be shared in the evening.

It’s worth noting that the State government has already announced routine restrictions over firing crackers that are anyway announced every year, such as – bursting crackers will be allowed only during 8 to 10 pm, imported crackers will not be allowed, bursting crackers at public places will not be allowed.

NGO order:

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has in a 58-page order imposed a blanket ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in Delhi-national capital region (NCR) from the midnight of November 9 to that of November 30. the NGT has said that the ban would apply to all cities or towns in the country, where the average of ambient air quality during November, as per the available data of last year, fall in the “poor” or “very poor” category.Air quality index (AQI) between 201 and 300 and from 301 to 400 is considered to be in the “poor” and “very poor” category, respectively.In cities or towns, where AQI is “moderate” – between 101 and 200 — or below, only green crackers will be allowed to be sold.In other states, the ban and restrictions would be optional.

Cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara as per the online real time data come between 100 and 200 in AQI (Air Quality Index).

DeshGujarat