Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) has issued circular to all the district collectors and Superintendents of Police for implementation of the Supreme Court order on bursting of firecrackers from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm.
CECB also urged the citizens to respect the verdict of Supreme Court and ensure being part of saving the environment by keeping it clean and by bursting crackers only from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm.
CECB officials stated that as per the Supreme Court order, on Diwali and other festivals the use of firecrackers should be limited from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm and for Christmas and for New Year, the timing is 11.55 pm to 12.30 am.
As per the directive, the use of such fire crackers is permitted which has less impact on noise level and causes minimum air pollution.
The Supreme Court has given permission for green and improved firecrackers and it should be sold through the license holders only.
CECB officers said that Supreme Court has banned the sale of firecrackers online. All the states have been instructed to implement the order.
CECB has been since few years had been involved in creating public awareness for control and balanced use of firecrackers during Diwali. It received positive response. Since last two years, at Raipur and other parts of the state, the level of noise and air pollution has dropped during the festival period. Meeting was also held to discuss the implementation of Supreme Court order.