Gurugram enforces firecracker ban based on SC, state orders

The seized firecrackers to be disposed of within 48 hours; with reports submitted to DC, HSPCB, according to officials.

Published on: Jun 5, 2025, 10:28:01 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The district administration on Wednesday imposed a complete and immediate ban on the sale, storage, manufacture, transport, and use of firecrackers across Gurugram, in compliance with Supreme Court directions and a Haryana government directive aimed at reducing air and noise pollution in the National Capital Region.

The court also directed the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to enforce the ban under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. (AP)

Deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar said enforcement teams have been constituted at both the district and sub-division levels. “Strict instructions have been issued to all enforcement teams to act without delay against any violation,” Kumar said, urging public cooperation and vigilance.

The action follows the Supreme Court’s April 3, 2025, order in WP (C) 13029/1985 – MC Mehta v. Union of India, which imposed a year-long ban on firecrackers—including green crackers—across Delhi-NCR under Article 21 (right to a pollution-free environment).

The court also directed the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to enforce the ban under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Aligning with the SC’s ruling, Haryana had already issued its own directive on December 19, 2024, enforcing the same ban across NCR districts.

The district-level enforcement committee, headed by the deputy commissioner and convened by the regional officer of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), includes officials from police, fire, education, and public relations departments.

These teams will monitor illegal sales, seize banned stock, dispose of it safely under the Explosives Rules, 2008

Sub-divisional teams—led by magistrates and supported by deputy commissioners of police, tehsildars, block development officers, fire officers, and education officers—will conduct rural and ground-level enforcement.

All seized firecrackers must be documented and disposed of within 48 hours, with reports submitted to the DC and HSPCB, officials added.

Violators face penalties under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act (up to ₹15 lakh), BNS Section 233 (disobedience to public order), and the Explosives Act, 1884, including imprisonment. Premises may be sealed, stock confiscated, and FIRs registered, state officials said.

Gurugram residents can report violations via email (hspcbrogrn@gmail.com), X (@HspcbN), or WhatsApp (+91 9084220708, +91 9466777145). Complaints will be acknowledged within 24 hours and addressed within 48.

The district committee will review enforcement monthly, officials said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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