...but it is easily available
THIS HOLI, there will be no green, at least, in Kanpur. After the AIIMS approved that green is the most toxic colour, its sale has been banned during the festival. Silver or aluminium paint meets the same fate.
Yet, as the general perception goes, the city administration couldn’t get its timing right and the ban may end up as an eyewash.
Reason: Green colour is in great demand and traders continue its sale even after 4 pm – when the ban comes into effect. To top it all, green, mostly granulated, was being sold for two weeks and people purchased it in bulk.
The ban was enforced after a high-level meeting of the district authorities was held with District Magistrate Deepak Kumar on Monday. It was observed that the granulated green and crystal green were highly toxic and could harm skin and eyes. “It can also act as a catalyst for an epidemic of sorts and has the potential to create law and order problems as well, “ ADM (city) Abrar Ahmed told HT after the meeting.
“The ban on sale of green colour and alumunium paint will continue till the Holi concludes on March 20,” said Ahmed. During this period, the circle officers (COs) will hold meetings with the office-bearers of Vyapar Mandals of their respective areas and they will explain to them the hazard the green and aluminium colours pose to human health before asking them to discourage their sale.
{{/usCountry}}“The ban on sale of green colour and alumunium paint will continue till the Holi concludes on March 20,” said Ahmed. During this period, the circle officers (COs) will hold meetings with the office-bearers of Vyapar Mandals of their respective areas and they will explain to them the hazard the green and aluminium colours pose to human health before asking them to discourage their sale.
{{/usCountry}}Otherwise, the cops have been empowered to confiscate any quantity of colours specified under the ban and arrest the retailers and wholesalers under Section 188 of the CrPC.
The administration has also appealed to the Holi revelers to refrain from using these colours. To deal with liquor sale, officials, on their part, have come up with a novel way.
All the police station heads will start collecting keys of the licensed liquor shops from Monday night itself.
The keys will be returned to the license holders only on Thursday to resume sale.
The administration, however, decided not to allow any fresh ‘Holika dahan’ at any place. The police were asked to physically verify the places listed for ‘Holika dahan’.