Panchkula air quality turns poor on Diwali night

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, November 5

The usual ‘satisfactory’ to ‘moderate’ Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city entered the ‘poor’ category on the Diwali night as people burst crackers in a blatant disregard to the Deputy Magistrate’s Wednesday order prohibiting sale and use of firecrackers. Only bursting of green crackers was allowed for two hours (8 pm to 10 pm).

Although the district administration had constituted inspection teams, it failed to keep a check on violators.

Meanwhile, the police took no action against offenders. No FIR was registered in connection with defying of the DM’s order.

No response from helpline numbers led to people venting out their frustration on their social media profiles.

Saurav, a Twitter user, tweeted, “The 8-10 pm window to burst only green crackers is long over, still crackers are bursting non-stop. Authorities need to find more effective ways to implement bans. Police not responsive to calls despite repeated attempts.”

Another social media user shared, “Law is a joke in this country, so is the basic right to be able to breathe.”

All police personnel on duty across the city had been directed to ensure action under the provisions of the Explosives Act, 1884, the CrPC and the Disaster Management Act, 2005, as well as Section 188 of the IPC, 1860, for violation of the cracker ban order.

The PRO of the Deputy Commissioner of Police confirmed that the police filed no case under any of these sections on Wednesday.

SK Nayar, president, Citizens’ Welfare Association, said, “There was no adequate police presence to keep a check on violators. The ban order was a mere announcement as it was not implemented at all. Elderly citizens, including me, weren’t able to sleep as sound of bursting of crackers went on until 1 am. Ultimately, I wasn’t able to go out for a morning walk unlike normal days.”

Haryana Speaker and local MLA Gian Chand Gupta claimed that the use of crackers came down significantly in comparison to last year.

16 cases of burns

A total of 16 burn incidents took place in the district on Diwali. Besides, five cases each of assault and road accidents also reported. A 29-year-old from Dharampur in Himachal Pradesh had reported with severe burns and was referred to the PGI.

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