Uttar Pradesh Government has imposed a complete ban on Chinese firecrackers and the Deputy Chief of Explosive Control Board, Agra has also issued an order to arrest those who do so.
The sale and storage of foreign firecrackers are banned under section 84 of the Explosives Act, 2008.
Deputy Chief of Explosive Control Board, Agra Dr. AP Singh has issued an order to all District Magistrate of the state stating that the manufacture, import, storage and sale of such fireworks in India is illegal which include chlorate chemicals (potassium chlorate, sulforate etc.) This should be reported to the local police.
There is a provision of punishment under part 2 of section B of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 for sale or storage of foreign firecrackers, which can carry life imprisonment or rigorous imprisonment for up to 10 years.
However, a three-member team decides the punishment, which includes District Magistrate or first-class magistrate nominated on his behalf, District Arsenal In-charge and Superintendent of Police level officers.
Most of the foreign crackers in the Indian market are from China.
They pollute 30% more than Indian green firecrackers and affect the economy as well. District Magistrate, Agra, Prabhu N Singh said that strict action will be taken against those selling or storing foreign firecrackers. Those who apply for a license to sell fireworks on Diwali will be sworn in the written letter.
4 teams have been formed under the supervision of Deputy Explosive Control, who have inspected the warehouse of license holders manufacturing and selling fireworks in Agra, Bareilly, Saharanpur, Badaun and Pilibhit etc of West Uttar Pradesh.
Deputy Chief of Explosive Control Board, Agra Dr. AP Singh said that our department issued a license to manufacture, store or sell fireworks for 1500 kg or more gunpowder. A campaign is also being run to ban the storage and sale of foreign firecrackers.
Prof. Lavkush Misra, State co-convener, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, told that people are constantly made aware of the sale, purchase and use of foreign products. Not only fireworks, but people should also stop using all imported products.
Fireworks have also been banned in Bengal and Orissa. Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandon Upadhyay said that Diwali will lead to the pollution which can be dangerous for corona patients. Environmentalist Subhash Dutta has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding compliance with the Supreme Court guidelines on firecrackers. On the other hand, the Orissa government has also banned buying, selling and bursting crackers up to 10-30 numbers.
President of the Medical Council of India, Chhattisgarh unit, Dr. Sudhir Shukla has written a letter to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and demanded a ban on the firecrackers in the states. He has said that corona infection can take serious form due to an increase in polishing, which is a danger of increasing infection in the lungs, so like Rajasthan, the sale of firecrackers and fireworks should be banned in Chhattisgarh also.
