Kids win it: PIL filed by 3 infants makes SC ban crakers in Delhi-NCR

Where initiatives by older people and veteran campaigners failed, three infants have pulled it off. Passing orders on a joint PIL by Arjun Gopal, Aarav Bhandari and Zoya Rao Bhasin, all aged between six months and 14 months, the Supreme Court on Friday, taking into consideration the grave quality of air, banned the sale and stocking of all kinds of firecrackers and issuance of new licence in Delhi and National Capital Region with immediate effect.

Licences of the existing firecracker sellers will be immediately suspended and no new licence will be issued till further orders, said the apex court.

The petition filed by the infants was lying dormant for a while, but had been revived after the deadly smog attack the Capital suffered post Diwali and lasted nearly two weeks, causing serious health issues.

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Cracking down on uncontrolled bursting of crackers, the apex court said such a step was essential to keep the rising pollution levels of the Capital and its surrounding areas under check. However, there is no restriction on bursting crackers as it would be difficult to implement and monitor, the apex court has said.

But there is a catch. Crackers will not be available in Delhi/NCR region and bringing in large quantities of crackers from other states is already barred under the law.

SMOG ATTACK

According to studies, infants are foremost prone to lung disease, asthma, coughing, bronchitis, retarded development of the nervous system and cognitive impairment caused by pollution. A Bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur, and Justices AK Sikri and SA Bobde also specified that no fresh licences shall be issued for sale and stocking of firecrackers. The Bench also directed the Central Pollution Control Board to study harmful effects of materials used in firecrackers and submit report in the Supreme Court in three months

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Diwali may be over but even then the apex court's order is a big setback for cracker sellers as a good amount of stock is sold during the ongoing marriage season and also on the New Year eve.

"We are the most vulnerable category when it comes to air pollution, especially from suspended particles and toxins. We are foremost prone to lung disease, asthma, coughing, bronchitis, retarded development of the nervous system and cognitive impairment," kids had told the court. Filed with the help of advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the petition said: "Studies show citizens of India have 30 per cent lower lung capacity than Europeans and that the children are worst affected, as their lungs are not fully developed, making their systems more vulnerable."

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This year, Diwali firecrackers pushed pollution level in Delhi to a dangerous level, its worst in the last 10 years.

On Diwali night, PM 10 ranged from 448 (micrograms per cubic metre) g/m3 to 939 g/m3 in Delhi as against the national safe standard of 100 g/m3, Delhi Pollution Control Committee had told the court.

A report by the SCappointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority had said air pollution was the fifthlargest killer after high blood pressure, indoor air pollution from cooking fuels, tobacco smoking and poor nutrition. It said residents of Delhi and Ghaziabad have more reasons to worry as they reside in two of the five critically polluted cities.

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