Cuttack: A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Orissa High Court Wednesday seeking a total ban on sale and bursting of firecrackers in the state during Diwali.
Bharat Vikas Parishad president Surendra Panigrahi has filed the petition in the HC and made the Chief Secretary, law secretary, home secretary and DGP parties to the case.
In his petition, Panigrahi stated that the Supreme Court imposed a ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) till October 31. The apex court also cancelled licences issued to cracker traders by the police. The petitioner made an appeal to the HC to issue an order in line with the SC to ban sale and bursting of firecrackers in the state.
Prior to filing the PIL, the petitioner had written to home secretary and DGP in this regard. In his letter, the petitioner pointed out that firecrackers are being sold illegally at various places in the state. Firecrackers explosions cause noise, air and environment pollution. It adversely affects the ecology. So the sale of firecrackers should be banned, the petitioner had stated.
However, the officials did not act in this regard. It is the need of the hour to ban sale and bursting of firecrackers in view of the upcoming Diwali, the petitioner said.
Every year many children sustain serious wounds and become disabled in firecracker explosions during Diwali. It also resulted in loss of lives and properties. Firecracker explosions worsen the air quality and affect the environment. The level of pollution caused by firecrackers is also not checked properly, the petitioner alleged. He appealed to the HC to order a complete ban on firecracker sale and their bursting and cancellation of licences issued to firecracker traders.
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