Hearing on petition challenging firecracker ban on Friday

Jaipur: Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday postponed the hearing on the ban on firecrackers to Friday. The state government had banned the use of firecrackers during Diwali and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on those who sell the product and Rs 2,000 on those who burst them.

The state government’s decision to ban firecrackers has been challenged in the high court by Rajasthan Fireworks Dealers and Manufacturers’ Association.

The petition said the ban has triggered a crisis of livelihood for thousands related to the business, said association secertary Zaheer Ahmed.

“No agency or organisation has done research and claimed that the bursting of firecrackers will spread Covid-19. The smoke from firecrackers on Diwali spreads only 4% of pollution in two to three hours. Whereas smoke emitted from factories, vehicles and smoking spreads 96 per cent of the pollution. The state government should control pollution emanating from factories,” he said.

In a review meeting held at the chief minister’s residence a few days back, the CM directed to take strict action against the sale of firecrackers in the state and polluting vehicles running without fitness to protect the health of coronavirus-infected patients and the public from the toxic smoke emitted from them.