The Supreme Court is considering banning firecrackers in Delhi owing to concerns over the Capital’s air pollution crisis. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur said they will take all information and aspects in the case into account and pass an interim order for a limited period. This will include directing the Centre to suspend and not renew the licence to possess, stock and sell the explosives in the Delhi-National Capital Region, PTI reported.

“We will do whatever is best for the country and Delhi. Any order passed by us will have to be reasonable so that it could be enforced,” said the bench, which included justices AK Sikri and SA Bobde, after it was told that a large number of crackers will be burst in the upcoming festival and wedding season.

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“People are least bothered about its impact on the environment,” the Supreme Court bench said, adding that they will not issue a final order without research and reports on the effects of crackers air quality, health and lifestyle. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had, on Monday, directed authorities to ban firecrackers from being burst in the region during occasions other than religious festivals.

Air quality in Delhi-NCR saw an alarming drop following Diwali celebrations on October 30. As a result of the smog that clouded the national Capital, schools remained closed for three days earlier this week. On Thursday, the National Green Tribunal had declared an environmental emergency in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, and had recommended measures to help curb air pollution in these states.

The Supreme Court had sought a detailed plan from the Centre on how it would tackle the alarming levels of pollution in Delhi. It made note of suggestions offered by various parties and said, “Do you have a plan before pollution attains such a lethal level that the entire city will be shut down and human lives are threatened?”