Nearly 1,770 kg of crackers seized; 11 more arrested for fireworks ban violations
With the 14 fresh cases, the total number of such cases registered since November 7 has risen to 39, while 32 persons have been arrested; two of them for bursting crackers.
Continuing its crackdown on the illegal sale and use of firecrackers, the Delhi Police on Wednesday said it has seized nearly 1,770 kilos of firecrackers, registered 14 more cases and arrested 11 persons for violating the Delhi government’s and the National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s ban on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR till November 30.
With the 14 fresh cases, the total number of such cases registered since November 7 has risen to 39, while 32 persons have been arrested; two of them for bursting crackers.
In total, 2,794 kg crackers have been seized so far, the police statement said, although it did not specify whether these included the green ( less-polluting) firecrackers.
On November 5, the Delhi government, in a bid to check the rising pollution levels, announced a complete ban on the sale and use of fireworks, including “green varieties”, till November 30. The next day, environment minister Gopal Rai said bursting or selling crackers may attract fines of up to ₹1 lakh.
The NGT also imposed a complete ban on the sale and use of crackers in Delhi-NCR on Monday (November 9). On November 10, the Delhi Police came up with an action plan to implement the ban, including suspension of cracker sale licences, constituting \teams to intensify patrolling, and asking schools to encourage children not to burst crackers.
Among the 14 cases reported between Tuesday and Wednesday, 12 were related to cracker sales in west, north-east, outer-north, north-west, Rohini, outer and Dwarka areas, while two were registered in north-west and east districts for using fireworks. Ten persons have been arrested for selling crackers, while one has been arrested from north-west Delhi’s Ashok Vihar for bursting crackers.