Hearing a petition to allow the sale and use of green crackers in the State, the Orissa High Court on Friday left the ball in the Special Relief Commissioner's (SRC) court to take an appropriate decision over the contentious issue.
The court has asked the SRC to arrive at a decision while keeping in mind the directives of the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and also the guidelines issued by the government for the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The SRC is likely to make hearing on the subject tomorrow and intimate the court about the decision by 10 am on Monday (November 1). The HC is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday afternoon.
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Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K. Stalin had urged his counterpart in Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, along with the CMs of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi to reconsider the ban on the sale of firecrackers and allow sale of green crackers during Diwali this year.
In a letter to the four Chief Ministers, Stalin requested them to allow the sale of firecrackers, which fall under the norms set by the SC and the NGT, in their respective states during this Diwali.
"You would also appreciate that bursting of firecrackers is an integral part of Indian festivals, especially Diwali. A balanced approach that gives due regard to environment, livelihood and public health is possible and necessary," he said in the letter.
Apart from Delhi and Rajasthan, the Odisha government on September 30 had ordered a complete ban on sale and use of firecrackers during October to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.