Cuttack: This Diwali could be noise and smog free for the people in Odisha if a PIL filed in the High Court today has its way.

Surendra Panigrahi, a social worker today filed a PIL in the Orissa High Court seeking a ban on bursting of crackers in Diwali on the lines of the ban imposed in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR).

The petitioner has made Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Law and Home departments and DG Police as parties in the PIL.

“Supreme Court has banned the use of crackers during Diwali in Delhi and NCR. I have petitioned for a similar ban on bursting of crackers in Odisha during Diwali,” said petitioner Surendra Panigrahi.

“I have made Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Law and Home departments and DG Police as parties in my PIL,” he added.

Notably, the Supreme Court on Monday suspended the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and NCR till November 1, 2017, in a bid to test whether a Diwali without firecrackers this year will have a positive effect on the health of citizens and a steadily deteriorating air quality.