Maharashtra will not ban firecrackers, says Environment Min. Ramdas Kadam

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Maharashtra's Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam on Thursday said that the sale or use of firecrackers would not be banned in the state, ahead of the festival of Diwali.

"Banning firecrackers is out of question. The administration, neither has and nor ever will issue any such order. Public awareness should help in pollution control," Kadam told reporters after meeting with Maharashtra Firecracker Association, along with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Kadam averred that the banning of firecrackers would be an injustice towards the Hindu festivals, and added that the government's focus would hence be on the reduction in bursting of crackers and not on a complete ban.

"We have taken up public awareness initiatives to reduce bursting of crackers. Our effort is towards spreading awareness so that less pollution is created," Kadam said.

A day ago, Kadam urged the people of Maharashtra to observe a cracker-free Diwali.

It was speculated that the state would follow New Delhi's lead, which banned the sale and purchase of firecrackers in the national capital and adjoining regions under the Supreme Court's order on October 9.