Bombay HC Restricts Diwali Firecracker Usage to 3 Hours, Halts Construction to Curb Mumbai's Air Pollution

A division bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Girish Kulkarni have asked all the municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to adhere to the directives to immediately tackle the AQI problem.

The bench was hearing a suo motu PIL pertaining to the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai which has become a matter of huge concern in the past few weeks, and seeking remedial measures.

The judges observed that there is a need to make a choice now, either for a disease-free environment or burning fire-crackers to celebrate Diwali.

It urged the state government to take a decision as it has become difficult even to walk on the footpaths with the entire city being affected by air pollution and "we cannot depend only on nature".

The judges also ordered the implementation of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s recent measures under the Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan, like erection of metal sheets around construction sites, sprinklers to suppress dust, traffic norms and other regulations to control air pollution.

The court has said that the BMC Ward Officer concerned would be personally held responsible for any lapses and all the Municipal Commissioners of the MMR should not only supervise the steps being taken but also identify the errant officers.

The court ordered forming a two-member committee comprising the Director of Public Health Services and Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to monitor and supervise daily the actions taken by the MMR municipal corporation authorities.

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The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.