Delhi Environm൩ent Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday said his government's priority is to save human lives and that it is not interested in politics over firecrackers.
Pollution levels rise around Diwali every year. The major reason is burning of firecrackers. Emissions from firecrackers are extremely dangerous especially fo🌼r kids, women and the elderly, he told reporters here.
The Delhi government has re-imposed a complete ban o🅰n th𝔉e production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers till January 1, including on Diwali, a practice it has been following for the last two years.
"Our priority is to save lives. We are not interested in politics over firecrackers. Some people even moved the Supreme Court over the issue. There i𒁏s no scope of a debate aft🐼er the apex courts' decision in the matter," he said.
The apex court had on Thursday turned down a petition by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari seeking urgent hearing of a plea challenging the blanket ban on firecra♕ckers in Delhi.
BJP leadersꩵ had earlier targeted the Delhi government over the complete ban on firecrackers, and dubbed the Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation "anti-Hindu".
Rai had on Wednesday said bursting of firecrackers on Diwali in Delhi will attracಌt jail term up to six ෴months and a fine of Rs 200.
He ಞsaid production, storage and sale of firecrackers in the capital will be punishable with a fine of up to Rs 5,000 and three years in jail under Section 9B of the Explosives Act.
A total of 408 teams have been set up to implement the ban. The Delhi Police has set up 210 teams under assistant commissioners of police, while the Revenue Department has set up 165 teams and the Delhi Po😼llution Control Committee has constituted 33 teams.
-With PTI Input
