New Delhi, Nov 3 (IANS): The Delhi government on Tuesday appealed to all district magistrates, police and 11 teams of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to ensure a cracker-free Diwali in the national capital to curb pollution levels.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai made the appeal while launching anti-cracker campaign of the Delhi government.

He appealed to Delhiites to use green crackers and not the polluting kind.

"As per the directions of the Supreme Court, polluting crackers have been banned in Delhi and only pollution-free green crackers have been allowed this year. From today, an anti-cracker campaign has been launched in Delhi. All the SDMs, 11 teams of the DPCC and all police officials have been directed to ensure there is no bursting of polluting crackers across Delhi," Rai said, while visiting city's Sadar Bazaar to inspect the sale of crackers in the wake of the campaign.

For implementation of the campaign, the minister said, the teams are ensuring that the crackers sold must have a 'Green Cracker' logo on them and the crackers sold in the shops must be from authorised companies.

"We are following the guidelines of the Supreme Court. The Delhi government will follow any new directions to curb pollution as and when issued."

Rai said that every year, pollution levels in Delhi have been high due to the use of crackers around Diwali.

Due to this, crackers which cause pollution have been banned and we are promoting the use of only green crackers this year, the Minister said.

"I want to appeal to the people of Delhi, this is the time when we are witnessing Covid and pollution at the same time, please do not burn crackers. I also want to appeal to them to only use green crackers and keep the crackers away from children, women, elderly and people with co-morbidities," Rai added.