Punjab Government on Wednesday allowed two-hour window for using “only green firecrackers” on Diwali — between 8 pm and 10 pm. Issuing detailed instructions regarding the time limit for bursting firecrackers, the Government also allowed the use of green firecrackers on Gurpurb, Christmas, and New Year eve across the State.
As per the instructions, crackers are allowed in two slots from 4 am to 5 am and 9 pm to 10 pm for Gurpurb on November 8; from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am on December 25 for Christmas; and New Year’s Eve on December 31 from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am.
The instructions have been issued by the state’s Environment, Science and Technology Department in the light of the directions of the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal.
Giving details, the state Environment, Science and Technology Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that keeping in mind the people’s sentiments, the State Government has restricted the timings for busting crackers on the occasion of Diwali festival.
“On the day of Diwali, on October 24, firecrackers will be allowed in the state for two hours from 8 pm to 10 pm. The manufacture, stock, distribute, sale and use of joined fire crackers (series crackers or laries) is hereby banned in whole of the State. Only the green crackers — those crackers that do not use barium salts or compounds of antimony, lithium, mercury arsenic, strontium, chromate — would be allowed for sale and use in the state of Punjab. The sale shall only be through licensed traders and it shall be ensured that the licensed traders are selling the fire crackers, which are permitted,” he said.
Hayer said that apart from Diwali, crackers will be permitted for one hour from 4 am to 5 am and one hour from 9 to 10 pm on November 8, the prakash purab day of found of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev. “Bursting of crackers will be allowed for 35 minutes for Christmas from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am on December 25-26; and for 35 minutes from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am midnight on New Year's Eve from December 31-January 1,” he said.
An official of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) said that it has been decided to promote community celebration of the festival. The official said that e-commerce sites have been prohibited from selling or delivering the crackers in Punjab, and only green crackers, allowed by the Court, are allowed in all districts of Punjab.
The official said that only green crackers would be allowed in compliance with the NGT directives as well as various judicial orders passed amid reports of firecrackers likely to aggravate the COVID-19 and other breathing problems.
The orders, issued on Wednesday, said: “Police and District Administration to ensure compliance of time during the festivals and register cases against violators.”