Assam govt forced to abide by NGT rules & ban firecrackers on Diwali

GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has been forced to ban the sale and use of firecrackers amid the ongoing festive season. The government has been compelled to abide by the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to put a ban on the use of crackers this festive season.

The government has banned the sale of firecrackers in Guwahati till November 30. The decision came in order to prevent the pollution and COVID-19, both of which are expected to be major threats in the festive season.

Issuing a notice, the government has requested the citizens to burst green crackers for two hours from 8 pm to 10 pm.

It has also issued guidelines for Chatt Puja. According to the guidelines issued, no firecrackers would be allowed to be burst during the puja and green crackers will be allowed from 6 am to 8 am one.

Also Read: Firecrackers banned in certain areas of Guwahati; Check the details here

In Christmas and New Year, the Assam government allowed bursting firecrackers for 35 minutes from 11:55 pm onwards.

On Monday, The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Central Police district in Guwahati has probihited bursting of firecrackers within 500 meters radius of the Guwahati Refinery in Noonmati and the Oil Pipelines within the Central police district.

According to an official notification, the use of fireworks and bursting of crackers is prohibited within Silence zones of Central Police District in Guwahati. ‘

It was also stated that as per the order of the Supreme Court, only green firecrackers are allowed in non-prohibited areas between 8 PM to 10 pm on Diwali.  The order came into immediate effect from November 9, 2020, onwards.

The order also mentioned that any person contravening the order shall be punished under section 188 of the Indian penal Code.

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