Rejecting the representation by Chandigarh Cracker Dealers Association, the Chandigarh Administration on Thursday decided to continue the ban on sale and bursting of firecrackers in the city till further orders.
A day before, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had denied any respite to Chandigarh Cracker Dealers Association and asked the association to approach the Chandigarh Administration with a representation on the issue.Issuing an order after reviewing the representation, Manoj Parida, Adviser to Administrator on Thursday said that the representation is rejected and the ban on sale and bursting of firecrackers will continue in the city.
The order stated, “On review of the COVID situation, it is noted that the number of COVID positive cases is rising in union territory of Chandigarh. The pollution caused by bursting of air crackers is likely to aggravate the situation further, by adversely affecting the air quality. It was noted that despite restrictive hour crackers bursting allowed during last year’s Deepawali, the air quality remained ‘very poor’ in Chandigarh.”
“Chandigarh is one of the non-attainment cities included in the list notified by Central Pollution Control Board. Medical experts are of unanimous opinion that crackers’ bursting leading to air pollution will further aggravate the COVID situation in the union territory of Chandigarh,” the order said.
“In the totality of the circumstances, the ban imposed on sale or use of crackers in the union territory of Chandigarh issued under Disaster Management Act dated November 6 needs no modification or relaxation. The representation by Chandigarh Cracker Dealers Association is, therefore, rejected,” the order added.
Though the offence is bailable, provisions under the Disaster Management Act are stricter as compared to Section 188 of the IPC, which carries maximum jail of only three months. Section 51 of the Act provides for a jail term of two years in case anyone gets hurt and one year for mere violation.