Ban on sky lanterns

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 27

Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal has banned the use of sky lanterns, generally known as “Dhola”, in the city here today. The administration has banned the use of sky lanterns to prevent incidents of fire during the Diwali festival.

Shopkeepers in the city can’t store and sale sky lanterns and its material. The Deputy Commissioner said: “Ludhiana is a densely populated city and known for its hosiery, cotton and wooden industries. Industrialists store raw material and manufactured products in the open before the arrival of winter. They invest a huge amount on production of goods. It has been observed that they suffer huge financial losses due to fire incidents. Casualties were also reported during fire incidents in the past. The sky lanterns are one of the major reasons behind fire incidents.” 

“If any resident has some objection to the ban orders, he can approach the Deputy Commissioner’s office till October 30,” he added. 

It is the first time when the Deputy Commissioner has banned the use of sky lanterns.