Home / Environment / Bengaluru Residents Demand Crackdown on Illegal Firecrackers Ahead of Festivals
Bengaluru Residents Demand Crackdown on Illegal Firecrackers Ahead of Festivals
5 Sep
Summary
- Residents' groups urge Karnataka government to enforce 2018 SC order on firecrackers
- Recent Doddaballapur tragedy leaves 2 dead, several injured
- Calls for coordinated effort to ensure safe, green festive season
In the lead-up to the upcoming festive season, residents' groups in Bengaluru have appealed to the Karnataka government to strictly enforce the Supreme Court's 2018 order restricting the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers. This call for action comes in the wake of a recent tragic incident during Ganesha festivities in Doddaballapur, where two people were killed and several others injured in a firecracker-related mishap.
Civic groups have also highlighted last year's Attibele tragedy, where 17 people lost their lives in a firecracker godown explosion, to stress the urgent need for preventive measures. "If crackers produce noise, it is a clear indicator that they are non-green crackers," said Harini Raghavan, a member of the Public Health Community Initiative, urging citizens to report any illegal firecracker use to the authorities.
As Deepavali approaches, campaigners say a coordinated effort involving political will, strict enforcement, and citizen participation is essential to ensure Karnataka honors the Supreme Court's mandate for a safer, greener festive season. They have called for a meeting of all stakeholders to design initiatives in line with the court's orders and establish a monitoring body to curb the manufacture, sale, and purchase of non-green crackers.
