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India court bans fireworks in Delhi after Diwali smog India court bans fireworks in Delhi after Diwali smog
(about 7 hours later)
India's Supreme Court has stopped the sale of firecrackers in the capital, Delhi, and directed authorities to study their "harmful effects". India's Supreme Court has stopped the sale of firecrackers in the capital, Delhi, after concerned parents filed a petition on behalf of their babies.
The decision was in response to a petition filed on behalf of three infants on the grounds that their lungs were not developed enough to handle the increasing pollution in the city. The parents argued their children's lungs were not yet developed enough to handle the increasing pollution in the city.
Huge quantities of fireworks were set off during Diwali in October.
Diwali is the most important Hindu festival in north India.
Delhi, with 16 million people, is one of the world's most polluted cities.Delhi, with 16 million people, is one of the world's most polluted cities.
In recent years it has got noticeably worse around Diwali, when huge quantities of fireworks are set off.
On Friday, the Supreme Court suspended the "possession, stocking and selling" of fireworks in Delhi and its neighbouring suburbs "until further orders".
The court also directed pollution control authorities to "study harmful effects of materials used in firecrackers in three months".
Diwali fireworks 'worsen Delhi pollution'Diwali fireworks 'worsen Delhi pollution'
Diwali fireworks choke Delhi, angering IndiansDiwali fireworks choke Delhi, angering Indians
Diwali in Delhi: A colourful night turns smoggy greyDiwali in Delhi: A colourful night turns smoggy grey
On Friday, the Supreme Court suspended the "possession, stocking and selling" of fireworks in Delhi and its neighbouring suburbs "until further orders". The ban has been welcomed by Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the lawyer representing the three sets of parents, who pointed to the rise in pollution following October's celebration.
The court also directed pollution control authorities to "study harmful effects of materials used in firecrackers in three months". "This year, shortly after Diwali season was over, we had the worst instance of pollution in 20 years," he told the BBC. "It was pretty bad in the 10 days to two weeks following Diwali."
Pollution in Delhi increased to nearly 10 times the safe level after this year's Diwali celebrations, causing panic and outrage. In fact, pollution in Delhi increased to nearly 10 times the safe level after Diwali, the most important Hindu festival in north India. causing panic and outrage.
Residents awoke from a night of colourful fireworks to find the city covered in a thick grey blanket of smog.Residents awoke from a night of colourful fireworks to find the city covered in a thick grey blanket of smog.
There have been several campaigns in the past asking people to use fewer fireworks during the festival, but these have not been met with much success. There have been several campaigns in the past asking people to use fewer fireworks during the festival, but these have not met with much success.
Despite the victory, Mr Sankaranarayanan was critical of the government's response to date, pointing out that other countries have tackled the pollution issue head-on.
"The first step in any of this is a source apportionment study over a 12-month period so you know exactly what is causing the highest levels of pollution over the year," he said.
"China did it when it was facing problems, Indonesia did it, Dubai does it - but we don't. And still to date, despite [Delhi] being called the most polluted city in the world, the government has not commissioned a source appointment study."