The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a total ban on sale and use of firecrackers in Delhi and adjoining areas starting midnight of November 9 to November 30. If anyone in Delhi is caught bursting firecrackers in this duration, they can be sentenced to 1.5-6 years in jail, state Environment Minister Gopal Rai said. The ban has been imposed ahead of Diwali to prevent further rise in air pollution - already in the "severe" zone - because of firecrackers. It will be applicable to more than 2 dozen districts across four states that are a part of the National Capital Region (NCR).
