Karnataka government has joined in the long list of states banning bursting firecrackers this Deepavali. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday announced that the state has decided to ban fireworks this Diwali citing that the smoke will not only intensify pollution but it may have a severe impact on the health of those people who have just recovered from Covid-19 infection.
Yediyurappa while addressing reporters in Bangalore said, “We have taken a decision to ban firecrackers in the state, in wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The order regarding the ban will be issued soon.”
Karnataka State health minister Dr K Sudhakar after a meeting with the state’s COVID-19 expert committee and technical advisory committee on Thursday said the ban on the crackers during Diwali has been decided the after the committee has thoughtfully gone through the negatives and positives of it.
Sudhakar said, “As the smoke can badly impact the health of those who have already been infected by COVID-19 and even those who have not, we will place the committee’s report before the Chief Minister and he will take a final decision within a day or two.”
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After taking consultations with officials of the Health and Family Welfare Department on Friday, and considering the gravity of the present scenario, the Chief Minister has come to the judgment.
States like Rajasthan, Sikkim, New Delhi, Odisha, West Bengal and Maharashtra have already directed for imposing a ban on bursting the firecrackers for Deepavali.
Karnataka is amongst the worst-hit states with 838,929 Coronavirus infection cases. The state accounts for nearly 10% of the country’s total caseload.