Karnataka govt bans firecrackers across the state during Diwali

Bengaluru, November 06:Citing concerns over air quality in winter during pandemic in the country, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday announced to ban the use of firecrackers on Diwali this year.

 

With this announcement Karnataka joins the list of and Haryana. This comes after experts opine the smoke and pollutants from firecrackers can badly hurt infected Covid patients.

 

Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said they decided to ban firecrackers to prevent air quality from dropping, which can have a big impact on health amid the COVID-19 pandemic that experts widely believe puts those with co-morbidities at a higher risk. "We discussed this and are taking the decision to ban fireworks this Deepavali. It has been discussed and order is being issued. This is because of COVID-19," Yediyurappa told.

 

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar had said on Thursday firecrackers can hurt people who are infected with coronavirus, and asked residents to avoid bursting them this Diwali. The Karnataka government had tasked the Technical Advisory Committee for COVID-19 to submit its recommendations in this regard.

 

The Delhi government also banned the use of firecrackers in the city from November 7 till November 30, in wake of the rising air pollution in the national capital. Haryana also has partially banned firecrackers - it has made possession and sale of imported fireworks illegal.