ave Water in Holi, Give Up Crackers on Diwali: Is it

Justified?
"Regulate. Don't ban. Respect traditions."
-Chetan Bhagat

In light of the severe fog like conditions in Delhi NCR that descend on the city every Diwali, SC
has just banned firecrackers. So, Diwali has come under fire (even as talk of saving water on
Holi gains momentum) and the SC has restored the embargo on cracker sales, just as the capital
city was gearing up for a cracking Diwali. The question now arises whether the ban is a case of
judicial overreach? Author Chetan Bhagat certainly thinks so. The writer's tweet on the matter
spoke of the futility of banning Diwali crackers and taking the fun out of the festival of lights.
So, let's find out who is right and why there is no smoke without fire.

Yes

1. Save Delhi from Pollution

Delhi has a serious problem when it comes to pollution, with previous Diwalis turning into a
nightmare for residents. Toxic fumes from firecrackers cause severe air pollution that can impair
health. The festival of lights has turned into disaster, thanks to substandard material used to make
these crackers and the poisonous fumes they release.

2. Protect Our Fundamental Rights

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution gives citizens the right to life including dignity and comfort
in livelihood and right to a clean, habitable environment. Both rights are violated by firecracker
industries which exploit child labour under hazardous conditions to create crackers that add to air
pollution and environmental degradation. It's time the SC took matters into hand and passed a
concrete law to prevent this violation.

3. Prevent a Crisis In the Wider Ecosystem

Additionally, the SC needs to protect the wider ecology and surrounding states as well. The air
and noise pollution that results from crackers can damage the quality of life for Delhites.
Additionally, noise pollution can envelop surrounding areas such as Noida in UP and Gurugram
in Haryana. Delhi, as a capital city needs to set a precedent for others.

4. Judiciary is a Guardian
The judiciary is a guardian of people's rights. In the light of administrative failures to check this
breach and clear bottlenecks to prevent a crisis in the ecosystem, the judiciary must step in.

No

1. A Ban Will Not Solve Anything

When Delhi and Haryana farmers were banned from burning crop residues last year, the problem
still did not go away. This is because the government did not solve the underlying problem
which is how to get rid of the residue in the first place. A ban may be in place but compulsions or
just flouting orders will cause many to violate it. Bans need to be enforced. Blindly banning
crackers without understanding the basic problems will not solve this issue.

2. Can One Day Bans Solve a Permanent Problem?

Pollution is not caused by a single day or even a week of burning crackers. It is also caused by
industries that flaunt violations of norms and car owners that don't do PUC checks. Pollution also
results from the use of aerosols and technologies that degrade the environment. How come the
SC is not taking action against these?

3. Tackling the Real Problem Important

From vehicular pollution to construction dust, the problem of ecological degradation needs to be
addressed at the root, not the periphery. Otherwise, the ban is just an empty exercise with no
purpose except to make a token show of protecting the environment.

4. Judiciary Transgressing into Executive

Additionally, the judiciary needs to watch out that it is not overstepping boundaries. Deciding on
pollution control measures is the job of the administration and if they are lax, the judiciary
cannot compensate.

Diwali Under Fire: Concluding Thoughts

Rather than placing a complete ban on firecrackers, regulating their usage might have served the
purpose better. A festival is a chance to celebrate the values enshrined in the social mores of the
community. It helps to maintain our ethos. One day of no firecrackers, moreover, cannot
compensate for years of polluting and contaminating the environment.