Raipur: Ahead of celebrating the ‘festival of Lights’ Diwali, the Chhattisgarh government has issued guidelines, including time-slot for bursting firecrackers, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an order, dated November 9, the Chhattisgarh government said the decision had been taken after National Green tribunal banned firecrackers in various cities from 10th to 30th November that can bring potentially harmful consequences of bursting crackers amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and the economic impact of the ban on small traders.
“And whereas during the approaching festive season of Diwali, Gurupurab and Kartik Purnima, people usually burst crackers which can affect the respiratory health of vulnerable groups and aggravate the health condition of Covid-19 positive persons and persons in home isolation,” the order further said.
The order quoted the chief secretary as saying bursting of firecrackers will be allowed only between 8pm and 10pm during the upcoming festival of Diwali and Gurupurab. However, on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the order said, bursting of firecrackers will be allowed between 11:55pm and 00:30am.
Apart from this, only licensed traders will be able to sell improvised and green firecrackers. Only those firecrackers can be sold in the market in which the level of sound produced is within the prescribed range. Sale, use and manufacture of series fireworks and munitions are banned.
Instructions have also been given to cancel the license of such manufacturers of firecrackers, which use lithium, arsenic, antimony, lead and mercury in firecrackers.
Also, online e-business websites like Flipkart, Amazon etc. have been banned on the sale of firecrackers. These instructions will be widely publicized. The District Collector and Superintendent of Police will strictly follow it.
