E-Paper
Only green firecrackers allowed in Panchkula
The order issued by district magistrate Sushil Sarwan has also prohibited the manufacture, sale, bursting and use of all kinds of firecrackers except for green firecrackers, while also banning use of barium salts in fireworks, in Panchkula
In a repeat from last year, the Panchkula administration has permitted the use of only green firecrackers during upcoming festivals, including Diwali, Gurpurb and Christmas.
The order issued by district magistrate Sushil Sarwan has also prohibited the manufacture, sale, bursting and use of all kinds of firecrackers except for green firecrackers, while also banning use of barium salts in fireworks, in Panchkula. The ban will be in place from November 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024.
It has further barred e-commerce websites from accepting any online orders for delivery of banned firecrackers in Panchkula district.
Use of green crackers will be allowed on Diwali (November 12) and Gurpurb (November 27), along with other festivals, from 8 pm to 10 pm.
Apart from this, on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, fireworks will be allowed from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am.
Violation of this order will attract action as per the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Explosives Act and Explosive Rules.
The Supreme Court, vide its orders dated October 23, 2018, had allowed sale of green firecrackers with directions that on Diwali or on any other festival, such as Gurpurb, etc. fireworks will be allowed from 8 pm to 10 pm only.
The National Green Tribunal had issued a similar order on December 1, 2020.
Green firecrackers have been developed by the National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), a subsidiary of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Eco-friendly green firecrackers do not have chemicals that are harmful to environment. These release water vapour or air as dust suppressant. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation has approved these based on factors such as causing less pollution, noise, etc. Besides, green firecrackers emit 100-110 decibels of sound against 160 decibels by traditional crackers, which is 30% lower.
Order comes after raid
The district magistrate’s order came after the Haryana CM flying squad on Tuesday raided a godown in Sultanpur village near Barwala highway and discovered sale of illegal firecrackers.
Vijay Kumar, owner of the godown, Kumar Agency, and a resident of Sector 4, was arrested and later granted bail. As per police, Kumar had a firecrackers’ licence that was valid till March 31, 2025, but was selling the prohibited non-green firecrackers.
A huge quantity of banned firecrackers, including 80 packets of Deluxe chakkar, 125 of Sunindiya classic bomb, 820 of Ben 10 bomb, 70 of Ganga Jamuna cracker, 240 of rose-coloured sparkles, 60 of Red Giant ladli cracker, 50 of Red Giant I K fine crackers, 240 Red green minion bombs, seven boxes of sky shots, 30 of champion-coloured sparkles, two of flower pot giant firecracker and one packet of diamond 100 shot, were recovered.
A case under Sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 9-B of the Explosives Act was registered at the Chandimandir police station.
96 temporary licences issued in Chandigarh
Through the draw, held under the supervision of additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Rupesh Aggarwal, licensees were allotted sites in Sectors 24, 28, 29, 30, 33, 37, 40, 43, 46 and 49, Manimajra and Ram Darbar.
A total of 1,814 applications were received for the temporary licences. All license holders have been directed to give an undertaking that they will sell only green firecrackers certified by NEERI, and that they will comply with all orders and guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal.
The administration had earlier decided to allow the use of green firecrackers only from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali, and from 4 am to 5 am and 9 pm to 10 pm on Gurpurb.
