祝祭控えるインド、大気汚染悪化都市で花火禁止　コロナ拡大懸念

【ニューデリーＡＦＰ＝時事】インドの環境裁判所は9日、同国最大の祝祭行事を前に、大気汚染が有害レベルに達している都市における花火の使用禁止を命じた。同裁は、汚染と新型コロナウイルス感染者数の急増の関連性にも言及している。（写真は濃いスモッグに包まれたインド・ニューデリー）
　同国では、ヒンズー教の光の祭典「ディワリ」の祝祭が１４日に予定されている。
　この祭りでは伝統的に、何百万発もの花火が打ち上げられるが、この慣習が大気汚染の悪化を招いているとの批判が出ている。特にインド北部は毎冬、深刻なスモッグに見舞われている。
　国家環境裁判所（ＮＧＴ）は、花火が引き起こす汚染は「生命と健康へのリスクを高める」と指摘し、大気汚染が悪化しているあらゆる都市を対象に、花火の使用を今月３０日まで全面的に禁止すると発表した。これを受け、花火製造業者らは直ちに政府に補償を求めた。
　インドは世界で２番目に新型コロナウイルスの感染者数が多い。専門家らは、同ウイルス感染症をはじめとする呼吸器疾患の症状が、大気汚染により悪化することへの懸念を示している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/11/10-12:24）

India's environmental court on Monday ordered a ban on firecrackers during the country's biggest annual festival in cities battling hazardously poor air quality, citing a link between pollution and a coronavirus surge.
The National Green Tribunal said the role of pollution in the Covid-19 crisis meant that the ban was needed ahead of Diwali celebrations on Saturday.
Traditionally, millions of firecrackers are set off during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light, but the practice has been blamed for worsening air pollution -- especially in northern India which suffers from serious smog every winter.
The tribunal, whose powers are similar to a regular court, said that pollution caused by fireworks was an aggravating risk to lives and health. It said a general ban in all cities with rising air pollution should last until November 30.
India has the second-highest number of coronavirus infections in the world, and experts have raised concerns about air pollution worsening the symptoms of respiratory illnesses such as Covid-19.
The capital New Delhi and the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra and West Bengal have already halted or restricted the sale and use of firecrackers.
The tribunal said the ban in Delhi must be absolute because of the pollution crisis and rising Covid-19 cases.
State authorities in the rest of the country are considering allowing one-hour windows on Saturday for setting off firecrackers.
Delhi on Sunday reported 7,750 coronavirus cases in a day, a record since the start of the pandemic with hospitals reporting that intensive care beds are running out.
Pollution levels have been at the severe top level on the government index for almost a week.
New Delhi is caught in a perfect pollution storm because of its position in the bowl of a plain, the burning of crop stubble in states around the city, and its dirty industries.
Firecracker makers immediately demanded that the government pay compensation for the ban.
The southern district of Sivakasi, which supplies about 90 percent of India's firecrackers and employs more than 250,000 people, has been hit particularly hard by restrictions in recent years.
Factory owners say they have already lost 30 percent of their business this year because of the coronavirus.