The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: In Himachal Pradesh, only green crackers can be burst within a two-hour window between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali night (November 12, 2023). The Himachal government has taken this decision following the instructions of the Supreme Court and orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Any violations can land a person behind bars for five years or lead to a penalty of Rs 1 lakh. The Himachal Pollution Control Board has written a letter to the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of all districts and instructed them to strictly implement the orders.
Pollution board Member Secretary Anil Joshi said that the NGT had banned firecrackers in cities that were highly sensitive to air pollution whereas in cities falling in moderate and general category, permission had been given to burst only green crackers, and that too for two hours.
According to the orders of the Supreme Court, there is a complete ban on bursting of firecrackers within 100 metres of the premises of ‘silence zone’, including hospitals, nursing home, primary and district health centres and educational institutions. “The violation of Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act, 1981; Noise Pollution Regulation and Control Rule, 2000; and Environment Protection Act, 1986, can lead to five-year imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1 lakh,” he said.
Central institute CSIR NEER has developed green crackers, which do not contain chemicals like aluminum and potassium nitrate. These cause minimal smoke and pollution.
Following is the duration to burst green crackers:
Diwali (November 12): 8 pm and 10 pm
Gurpurab (November 27): 4-5 pm and 9-10 pm
Christmas (December 25/26): 11.55 pm to 12.30 am
New Year’s Eve (December 31/January 1): 11.55 pm to 12.30 am
