Ideas are only lethal if you suppress and don't discuss them. Ignorance is not bliss, it's stupid. Banning firecrackers (in original quote:books) shows you don't trust your kids to think and you don't trust yourself to be able to talk to them.Anna Quindlen
Sikkim Government has banned firecrackers during this Diwali 2015 according to its notification No.187/FEWMD , but when I saw the notification it is written that this notification was effective from 19/12/2014 which nobody was aware of till now.
When Diwali came they posted this notification on this site http://www.sikkimforest.gov.in/ .They have not even mentioned the posting date but if I go in chronological order it should be between these dates : June 15,2015 -August 20,2015.
The notification says "in exercise of the powers conferred by section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986)" but when I read this act I nowhere found that state Govt. could go against Central Govt. or Supreme court and make their own rules.
Read the Act here:
Rather on Wikipedia I found that Ministry of Environment comes under Concurrent list and not in state list.
" The same decree transferred wildlife and forests from state list to concurrent list of the constitution, thus giving the central government the power to overrule state decisions on that matter. Such political and constitutional changes prepared the groundwork for the creation of a federal Department of Environment in 1980, turned into the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1985".
So whom should we follow now ? Supreme Court or State Govt.
Supreme court has turned down the move to ban firecrackers.
In its petition, the fringe group from Tamil Nadu's Sivakasi said fireworks are a means of celebrations across the world. "Crackers are burnt during Diwali, Independence Day, New Year, Christmas, victories in games and elections, marriages etc. These celebrations cannot be thwarted by unfair restrictions," it said
From all these facts and arguments I am not suggesting that we should not care about environment or worry about ever increasing pollution, we should be worried and should certainly take some action to protect the environment from polluting. But when people just starts caring about air pollution on Diwali and water pollution during Holi,it shows their hypocrisy. Moreover why ban it, create awareness,educate people.If this is the only way of stopping pollution then there are many things to be banned.Should not personal cars and bikes be banned first and only public transport be allowed?
Should not cigarettes be banned?
And if this government was really keen to ban firecrackers should not it first has to invent or provide some alternatives.
I could relate this ban to beef ban but I will not do so cause I am not hypocrite and I call a spade a spade.
And if this is achieved I will be proud of Sikkim.
P.S: Feel free to comment and point out mistakes if there are any.
P.S: Feel free to comment and point out mistakes if there are any.
