For the first time ever, Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) would be forced to celebrate Diwali this year without burning firecrackers. This follows the Supreme Court upholding its ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR till November 1.

However, the ban is unlikely to be effective. It is likely to be defied by the people.

Ordering the ban, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice AK Sikri said, "We should see at least in one Diwali the impact of a cracker-free festivity."

The ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR threatens to impact Diwali which falls on October 19. Firecrackers are considered to be inseparable from Diwali.

There is an argument that firecrackers cause air pollution in Delhi. However, there is no empirical study to prove it.

The studies conducted so far on air pollution in Delhi indicate that transport, generator sets, brick kilns, industries, waste burning, thermal power plants and road dust are the biggest culprits.

Studies further conclude that burning of firecrackers is not responsible for causing hazard if the most polluted areas are taken into consideration.

Anand Vihar is the most polluted area in Delhi-NCR. The reason: It is the centre of inter-state buses.

Next comes RK Puram. The reason: It is connected with both the rings roads on which heavy vehicles move.

Punjabi Bagh in West Delhi is the third most polluted area. The reason: Its proximity to agrarian Haryana and high density of vehicles in the area.

Stubble burning in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab had added to the woes of Delhi-NCR last year. The area had witnessed large-scale smog just after Diwali last year.

Though pollution was attributed to firecrackers on Diwali night, NASA images suggested that burning of crop stubble was considerably impacting the pollution levels. Farmers in the two neighbouring states burned paddy stubble in their fields after harvest as a routine matter.

Wind direction and fall in temperature played major roles in covering Delhi-NCR with a thick cloud of smog. But the culprit was burning of firecrackers on Diwali night.

The government may have done precious little to check pollution arising out of vehicles, industries, dust, generators, brick kilns and the likes but the Supreme Court has acted on burning of firecrackers.

The apex court's order is unlikely to have the desired result and here are the reasons.

CRACKDOWN

Holi and Diwali are the two biggest festivals in the country. They are celebrated not just by Hindus but people following other faiths as well. Like playing colours on Holi, burning firecrackers is deeply entrenched with Diwali celebrations.

People are unlikely to obey the Supreme Court order. Firecrackers are likely to find their way into markets or people may smuggle them from neighbouring areas.

If residents of Delhi-NCR choose to defy the directive, it would become extremely difficult for the government to stop the sale, purchase and burning of firecrackers.

Common man as well as prominent citizens have already started airing their disappointment with the Supreme Court order. Going by their reactions, it seems a ban on firecrackers will prove to be a damp squib.

Banning crackers on Diwali is like banning Christmas trees on Christmas and goats on Bakr-Eid. Regulate. Don't ban. Respect traditions. &; Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) October 9, 2017

The situation would be similar to the bans imposed by the Supreme Court on the celebrations of dahi-handi in Maharashtra and jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. People in both the states openly flouted the order and the law enforcing agencies remained mute spectators.

The ban on burning of firecrackers may meet the same fate.

PRODUCTION

Instead of putting a ban on sale of firecrackers, the government should seek to check their production. The government will have to crack down on production of firecrackers in Sivakasi situated in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.

The government will also have to crack down on the wholesale suppliers and retail sellers of firecrackers. Despite the ban, firecrackers can be sold illegally if they are available in the market.

PARITY

The ban on burning of firecrackers may also not yield the desired result because people celebrating Diwali would parity with other festivals which are accused of polluting the atmosphere.

There have also been long-pending demands for banning sacrifice of goats during Eid and shedding of blood during Moharram.

Till a simultaneous embargo is imposed on other festivals, it would be difficult for the government to strictly implement the ban on firecrackers.

SENSITISATION

This is the most essential part of implementing any ban. Efforts should first be made for sensitising the people about the ill-effects and futility of burning firecrackers before imposing a ban.

The sensitisation could be achieved through inclusion of a chapter in school, advertisements and holding of seminars and workshops. Till the people are educated, any such ban would be counter-productive.

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