Punjab allows bursting of green firecrackers for 2 hours on Diwali and Gurpurab

Punjab government has allowed bursting of green firecrackers for two hours on Diwali.

Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced a 2-hour window for use of green fire crackers on Diwali, Gurpurab and Christmas across the state, except in Mandi Gobindgarh, where a total ban has been imposed from the midnight of November 9-10 till November 30-December 1 midnight on account of its poor AQI levels.

Only green crackers will be allowed as per these orders, which are in compliance with the directives of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), as well as various judicial orders passed amid reports of fire crackers likely to aggravate the COVID-19 problem.

While on Diwali day, green crackers can be burst from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Gurpurab, they will be allowed from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. and from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Christmas eve, people can burst these crackers from 11.55 p.m. till 12.30 a.m.

Chairing a virtual COVID-10 review meeting, the Chief Minister directed the Department of Science, Technology and Environment to issue the necessary notification in this regard.

Warning against any violation of these directions, he asked DGP Dinkar Gupta to crack down heavily to ensure penal action as per the law.

Meanwhile, in compliance of NGT orders on bursting firecrackers, the Chandigarh Administration has already imposed a blanket ban on fireworks in the Union Territory.