Men light firecrackers while celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali in New Delhi, November 11, 2015. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/Files
NEW DELHI, October 23 (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the use of safer firecrackers and for a two-hour period during the Hindu festival of Diwali, a judge said, when fireworks add to toxic smog in the capital city of New Delhi.
A group of activists had petitioned the top court for a complete ban on fireworks as pollution levels are rising in the city of over 20 million ahead of Diwali next month.
Judge Arjan Kumar Sikri said only licensed traders would be allowed to sell firecrackers and banned online sales.
The air quality index, which measures the concentration of poisonous particulate matter, has risen above 300 in parts of Delhi in recent days. Anything above 100 is considered unhealthy by the Central Pollution Control Board.
