Diwali 2021 may not have turned entirely into a damp squib for firecracker enthusiasts with the Supreme Court overturning its previous ruling almost at the last minute against a blanket ban.
The Supreme Court on Monday said there cannot be a complete ban on firecrackers, and instead stressed the need to strengthen the mechanism to stop its misuse.
The SC has thus allowed the use of "green crackers" that do not contain barium salts.
However, states and UTs have different rules for the use, sale and purchase of firecrackers. While some have completely banned firecrackers, others have allowed regulated use.
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Here are the rules regarding the use, sale and purchase of crackers across 11 states in India.
1. Delhi
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has issued a blanket ban on the bursting of firecrackers in the capital till January 1, 2022. Widespread arrests have taken place in Delhi ahead of Diwali with the Delhi police arresting 55 people and seizing over 6,000 kilograms of firecrackers since the ban on fireworks in the national capital.
2. Haryana
Sale and purchase of firecrackers has been banned in 14 districts of Haryana. These include Faridabad, Karnal, Gurugram, Bhiwani, Panipat, Rohtak, Palwal, Nuh, Jahjjar, Charkhi Dadri, Sonipat, Karnal and others in the national capital region. Meanwhile, restrictions have been imposed on the rest of the districts.
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3. West Bengal
West Bengal's pollution control board had previously allowed the bursting of green crackers at slotted times during Diwali and Chhat Puja. However, last Friday, Calcutta High Court banned the sale and purchase of all firecrackers in the state. On Monday, however, the Supreme Court said there cannot be a complete ban on firecrackers, and instead stressed the need to strengthen the mechanism to stop its misuse.
4. Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu government has allowed the bursting of only "green crackers" on November 4 to mark the festival of Diwali. It has also announced time slots for the bursting of crackers. Residents are only allowed to burst permissible "green crackers" in two time slots - 7 am to 8 am in the morning and 7 pm to 8 pm in the evening.
5. Karnataka
Karnataka has allowed the sale and purchase of "green crackers" from November 1 o 10.
6. Maharashtra
The Maharashtra government has urged citizens to celebrate Diwali with lamps instead of crackers and maintain Covid-19 protocols while celebrating the day. However, there is no blanket restriction on bursting and sale or purchase of crackers.
In Pune, for instance, the production, sale and possession of a firecracker commonly known as 'sutli' or 'atom' bomb, has been banned by Pune police ahead of Diwali. The sale of firecrackers has been allowed in the city from October 27 to November 7, but the department was urging people to not burst crackers that create noise higher than 125 decibels. The bursting of firecrackers that create noise pollution will not be allowed between 10 pm and 6 am.
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7. Punjab
The Punjab government has allowed two hours from 8 pm -10 pm on Sunday for the bursting of green crackers across the state to mark the festival of Diwali and Guruparb. However, bursting of crackers has been restricted completely in districts like Mandi Gobindgarg and Jalandhar where AQI is poor.
8. Uttar Pradesh
Use, sale and purchase of firecrackers is completely banned in any district in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCR that records a "poor" or worse AQI.
9. Assam
There is a blanket ban on the bursting, selling of firecrackers in Assam. However, as per some reports, bursting of crackers was allowed for just two hours from 8 to10 pm on Sunday as well as from 6-8 am on Chhat Puja.
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10. Chhattisgarh
Bursting of crackers has been permitted on Diwali from 8 to 10 pm. The state also regulated the sale and purchase of crackers by banning online sales and only allowing licensed sellers to sell crackers that were prescribed to the permissible decibel limits. Crackers that contained illicit or toxic ingredients like arsenic, lithium, lead, antimony and mercury were banned.
11. Rajasthan
Rajasthan, too, has allowed the nursing of green crackers from 8-10 pm for Diwali. However, the bursting of crackers is not allowed in places with "poor" or worse AQI.
