Discourage use of fire crackers: Sisodia to schools

Delhi deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday appealed to educational institutions here to run a “Say no to crackers” campaign to reduce noise and air pollution in the city during Diwali.

He wrote letters to principals of as many as 2,000 educational institutions of Delhi to this effect.

“In order to discourage use of fire crackers on Diwali for controlling air and noise pollution, the Delhi government is conducting a campaign with the support of all the stakeholders and eco clubs. Your institution can play a pivotal role in this campaign,” he said.

“Your institution may accordingly organise awareness programmes like street plays, foot march, seminars and workshops by encouraging maximum participation of students.”

Sisodia said: “I am sure that your active support and cooperation in making the anti-fire crackers campaign successful will go a long way in reducing pollution levels in the city on Diwali.”

Meanwhile, observing that firecrackers were capable of causing harm just like firearms, the Delhi high court has rejected a plea for a temporary licence to sell crackers and said that injuries caused by firecrackers on Diwali had become a routine affair. 

The court said that none could claim a right to burst firecrackers at the cost of injury to another, adding that firecrackers did not have any religious sanctity.