Two-hour window to burst green crackers in Punjab on Diwali, Gurpurb

Tribune News Service

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Patiala, October 26

The Punjab Government today announced a two-hour window for the use of green firecrackers on Diwali and Gurpurb across the state, barring Jalandhar and Mandi Gobindgarh town. The fireworks timing has been restricted to 35 minutes on Christmas in the state.

On November 4 (Diwali), crackers are allowed from 8 pm to 10 pm, for Gurpurb (November 19) crackers are allowed in two slots from 4 am to 5 am and 9 pm to 10 pm, on December 25 (Christmas) from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am and New Year’s eve (December 31) from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am.

Meanwhile, no crackers are allowed in the two districts of Mandi Gobindgarh and Jalandhar following the air quality monitoring done on the Diwali night last year. Mandi Gobindgarh will see “no-cracker Diwali” for the second year in a row.

Further, the PPCB has decided to promote community celebration of the festival, while e-commerce sites have been prohibited from selling or delivering the crackers in Punjab. “Only green crackers, allowed by the court are allowed in all districts of Punjab,” said senior PPCB officials.

The announcement is contrary to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directions that call for a complete ban on the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in cities that had poor average ambient air quality levels during November 2019.

Only green crackers would be allowed in compliance with the NGT directives as well as various judicial orders passed amid reports of firecrackers likely to aggravate the Covid-19 problem.

Complete ban in two districts

No crackers are allowed in the two districts of Mandi Gobindgarh and Jalandhar following the air quality monitoring done on the Diwali night last year. Mandi Gobindgarh will see “no-cracker Diwali” for the second year in a row