T  he Supreme Court verdict banning manufacture, sale and use of fireworks effectively means a complete ban because what is allowed is not existing in the market and what is existing in the market is not allowed by the court. With e-crackers not available in the open market and the court ordering ban on sale of fireworks by e-tailers, this is effectively going to be a silent Diwali without the dhamaka.
The verdict, however, has thrown open a debate on right to livelihood versus the right to live and right to celebrate versus the right to breathe. The Court has tried to do a balancing act in tackling pollution caused by firecracker emissions, but the verdict in the case languishing in courts for over three years, comes at a time when Diwali celebrations are less than a fortnight away. And it will only be a rude shock to the millions of people who are all set to usher in the festival of lights with traditional pomp and grandeur.
For Goa, which is synonymous with its religious festivals where fireworks form part and parcel of celebrations, and for a State which is fast emerging as a wedding destination, this ban comes as a huge setback.
All fireworks which have been stocked for Diwali and the purchases made so far, including the eye-catching sprinklers, rockets and sky-blazing series, will have to be quietly disposed off and the losses running into crores of rupees will have to be borne by all and sundry involved in the trade.
However, there are serious ground issues that need to be addressed while going about enforcing the ban. Restricting fireworks to just two hours between 8 pm and 10 pm, verifying the use of e-crackers and locating community areas where people can congregate for bursting of fireworks is going to be a tough job for citizens and the law enforcers. The local Station House Officer or Police station in-charge will be under huge pressure to monitor the situation since the designated officer will be held liable for contempt of court “ a very serious charge.
This verdict applies to all major festivals, including Diwali, Christmas, New Year, etc and should not be seen from a religious lens. Mind you, fire crackers are known for its deadly emissions of lithium, barium and arsenic that have gone unnoticed until now. With rising levels of toxic emissions every year, it is the health of millions of Indians that is a primary concern against all other issues. This ban may not contain the pollution levels overnight, but it will go a long way to cleanse the already-polluted environment. Celebrating without choking and controlling the emissions is the way forward.
