The Delhi Government has published a list of over 800 open spaces across the city where people will be permitted to burn green firecrackers between 8pm and 10pm on Diwali on November 14.
The list posted on includes parks, vacant plots, school playgrounds and open grounds covering all of the city’s 272 municipal wards.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said in line with a 2018 Supreme Court order, the Government has allowed the manufacture and sale of only green crackers, which contain fewer polluting substances as compared to traditional ones, and are less noisy as well.
The Delhi Government will start campaign on Tuesday urging people not to burn fire crackers this Diwali for lesser air pollution amid ongoing Covid-19 crisis which may trigger cases further.
Urging people not to use firecrackers, Rao said, “I appeal to people to not burn any fire crackers at all this year. Because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, health hazards due to air pollution could turn more dangerous. If anyone really wants to burn firecrackers, then please use only green crackers.”
The prominent locations include Buddha Park in Mayur Vihar, a park in B block of Chanakyapuri, Ramleela ground in Laxmibai Nagar, Ajmal Khan Park in Karol Bagh, Sudarshan Park in Moti Nagar, West Mehram Nagar Park in Delhi Cantonment, CBD ground opposite Hotel Leela and Gandhi Park in Saket.
It may recalled, in 2018 and 2019, despite the ban on the sake of crackers, pollution levels in city witnessed huge spike post Diwali days.