NEW DELHI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- India's top court on Monday imposed a ban on the sale of fireworks in the capital city and its adjoining areas especially the National Capital Region (NCR) until Oct. 31, officials said.
With the ban, there will be no sale of firecrackers in the capital city around Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
The court said it wants to assess the difference to the air quality.
"A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri said the apex court's Sept. 12 order of temporarily lifting the stay and permitting sale of firecrackers would be effective from Nov. 1," a local official said.
Every year, bursting of firecrackers around Diwali festival leaves air in and around Delhi thick, and pushes air quality to a dangerous "severe" level of rating.
The deadly smog chocks air causing breathlessness and lung difficulties, besides badly affecting the visibility.
Last year officials said levels of Particulate Matter or PM 10, considered hazardous to health, rose to 999 micrograms per cubic metre which is above the safe limit of 100.
In India setting off fireworks on festivals is synonymous with celebrations and families spend lavishly to buy fire crackers and then set it off during marriages and Diwali night.
Delhi is considered to be the most polluted city in the world. Last year the city's high court described the capital as "gas chamber".
