Reuters: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NEW DELHI, Sept 11 – India’s New Delhi has reimposed a ban on firecrackers ahead of the Diwali festival to curb air pollution in the winter, when air quality reaches hazardous levels, the capital city’s environment minister said on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Manufacturing, storage, sale, online delivery and bursting of any type of firecrackers is completely prohibited in Delhi,” Minister Gopal Rai said at a press conference, adding that police have been instructed to stop issuing licenses for fireworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Firecrackers are a part of celebrations for the Hindu festival of Diwali, which falls in mid-November this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smoke from the hundreds of firecrackers that light up the sky during the festival leaves the city shrouded<\/a> in toxic haze, made worse as colder air traps dust, vehicle emissions, and pollution from stubble<\/a> burning in neighbouring regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Delhi government is set to meet with experts this week to draw up an action plan to combat pollution in the winter, when foul air causes a spike<\/a> in respiratory ailments in one of the world’s most polluted cities, often resulting in school closures and public health emergency declarations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n City authorities have, in the last few years, banned<\/a> the use and sale of fireworks ahead of the festival, warning of jail time and fines for those flouting orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government said that the city reported its best air quality since 2015 last year, driven by measures including a push for greener vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n