Cracker ban ignored as Amritsar residents celebrate beyond permitted hours

Despite repeated appeals from the administration and environmental authorities, the ban on bursting firecrackers beyond permitted hours went up in smoke this Diwali, as residents across the district continued celebrations well past midnight.

The district administration had clearly restricted firecracker bursting to between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali evening, but the sound of explosions and dazzling lights filled the skies for several hours beyond the prescribed limit.

On October 17, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney issued detailed directions regarding the sale and bursting of firecrackers during festive occasions, in compliance with Supreme Court orders. The instructions specified the permitted timings for bursting crackers on Diwali, Gurpurb, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Bhagwan Valmiki Jayanti, along with restrictions on the sale of banned crackers.

She appealed to people to use only green crackers, which are free from harmful substances such as lithium, mercury, arsenic, lead and barium salts, while warning that the sale or use of prohibited firecrackers would attract strict action.

Citing the Supreme Court’s order dated October 13, 2018, she stated that firecrackers may be burst only within prescribed time slots. According to the directive, crackers may be burst on Diwali from 8 pm to 10 pm, on Gurpurb from 4 am to 5 am and again from 9 pm to 10 pm, and on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am. Bursting crackers before or after the permitted hours is strictly prohibited, and violators would face legal action, she warned. The instructions were passed to the Municipal Commissioner, SSP, SDMs, and officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board to ensure strict enforcement.

Despite this, a large number of residents apparently ignored the advisory, treating the restrictions more as suggestions than orders. Police patrolling teams were deployed in various parts of the city, yet enforcement remained weak due to widespread participation in late-night celebrations.

Adding to the situation was confusion over the festival’s exact date. “The confusion over Diwali’s exact date only worsened the situation this year. While the main Diwali was officially observed on Monday, many areas in the region marked celebrations on Tuesday, citing different religious calendars and customs. This led to fireworks on both nights, doubling the environmental impact,” said environmentalist Manjit Uppal.

Dr Meenakshi, another resident, expressed concern that such violations nullify the purpose of promoting a “Green Diwali”.