Odisha bans sale and use of firecrackers in October, cites Covid-19 spread
Last year, the National Green Tribunal had ordered a ban on firecrackers in Delhi during Diwali. It cited the hazardously poor air quality of the city while drawing a link between pollution and a possible Covid-19 surge.
Claiming to protect the health of the people of the state and to curb the spread of the viral infection, the Odisha government on Thursday announced a ban on sale and use of firecrackers during October.
The Odisha government on Thursday announced a ban on sale and use of firecrackers during October in the state. (HT PHOTO.)
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Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena said the decision was taken to protect the health of the people and prevent the spread of infection. As ‘Ravan Podi’ is celebrated on the 10th day of Durga Puja, the state government ban on the sale and use of firecrackers is likely to result in its cancellation.
Last year, the Odisha government had ordered a ban on sale and bursting of firecrackers during Diwali.
The Rajasthan government on Thursday banned the bursting and sale of crackers in the state from October 1 to January 31 next year. On Wednesday, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee ordered a complete ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers in the national capital till January 1 next year.
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Last year, the National Green Tribunal had ordered a ban on firecrackers in Delhi during Diwali. It cited the hazardously poor air quality of the city while drawing a link between pollution and a possible Covid-19 surge.
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Last year, the National Green Tribunal had ordered a ban on firecrackers in Delhi during Diwali. It cited the hazardously poor air quality of the city while drawing a link between pollution and a possible Covid-19 surge.
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Odisha also revised night curfew timings for the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for 10 days in the month of October. The timing for the night curfew in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack from October 11 to 20 will be from 8 pm to 5 am.
The decision to ban firecrackers in October met with derision on social media with several on Twitter asking if the government would provide any financial support to the firecracker sellers? “What about liquor and crackers during other festivals and functions,” asked one while another remarked: “Stupidity at its best...Not allowing a source of income for many during these tough times…”
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.
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