State will comply with NGT's total ban on use and sale of Firecrackers: Maharashtra to Bombay High Court

The Maharashtra government, on Thursday, told the Bombay High Court that it would abide by the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) November 9 order banning the use of firecrackers in the coming days in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. .The submission was made by Government Pleader PP Kakade in a plea to ban the use of firecrackers in Maharashtra in view of the COVID-19 situation (Aniruddh Deshpande v. St. of Maharashtra)..NGT bans use of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR from Nov 9 to Dec 1 [Read Order].The plea filed by Aniruddh Deshpande had sought directions to the State to ensure implementation of ban on sale and use of firecrackers in Maharashtra from November 10 to 20 and to restrain the State from allowing sale and use of firecrackers..It was Deshpande's case that ban on firecrackers was necessary to ensure better air-quality which would prevent the spread of COVID-19. .In his plea filed through Advocate Niranjan Bhavake, Deshpande had submitted that if such measures are not taken to curb the spread of the virus, it will continue to affect large number of people.."Considering the high density of population in India, as well as the limited resources for tackling pandemic, it is likely to spread across the Nation with a high rate,"the petition stated..It was also pointed that several states like Rajasthan, Odisha and Sikkim had already banned the sale and use of firecrackers given its damaging effect on air quality standards..Deshpande mused that organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the various states in the country have taken serious cognizance of the issue. .However, it was his concern that “Maharashtra seems to be not so serious about prevention of outbreak of COVID”."The firecrackers are already problem in normal circumstances, whereas today’s condition is worse,"the petitioner submitted..Kakade, appearing for the State, assured the court that the State government will take all measures to comply with the NGT's ban on the use and sale of firecrackers..The Bench of Justices AK Menon and SP Tavade recorded his statement and disposed of the petition..[Read order here]