By The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed key state authorities in Odisha to respond to a petition regarding the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s firecracker ban. The plea seeks intervention to ensure compliance with the ban, specifically related to the sale and production of harmful firecrackers.
NGT Directs State Authorities to File Responses
On January 11, 2025, the NGT issued new directives to the Deputy Controller of Explosives (Odisha) and the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB). They are required to submit their responses to the petition. The petition, filed by Sanjay Kumar Nayak, an environmental activist from Aska, highlights the illegal manufacturing and sale of banned firecrackers marketed as “green crackers” in the state.
Supreme Court’s Guidelines on Firecracker Use
The Supreme Court had previously allowed the production and sale of firecrackers only with reduced emissions, under the condition they be sold through licensed traders. The NGT has been monitoring the situation and ordered state authorities to present records showing action taken to implement the SC’s directives, including a crackdown on the sale of dangerous firecrackers.
Environmental Concerns and Cracker Blast Incident
The petition further emphasizes the environmental dangers posed by firecrackers, citing the tragic cracker blast in Puri during Chandan Yatra on May 29, 2024, which led to the deaths of 15 people and left over 22 injured. Nayak has requested a report from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) regarding measures taken to prevent cracker use during Lord Jagannath’s rituals.
Air Quality Concerns in Odisha
The petition also refers to findings by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which identified seven non-attainment cities in Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Angul, Talcher, Balasore, Kalinganagar, and Rourkela. These cities have air quality levels that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The NGT had imposed a ban on firecrackers in these cities starting December 1, 2020 due to deteriorating air quality, yet the situation remains largely unchanged.
NGT Adjourns Hearing
The NGT has scheduled the next hearing for February 24, 2025, as the four respondents failed to respond to notices sent in November 2024.
