The directive will also be applicable to all cities and towns in the state where the average of ambient air quality during November (as per available data for the previous year) is in the categories of “poor” and above.
The Haryana government on October 31 banned the sale or use of all types of firecrackers with immediate effect in 14 of its districts in the National Capital Region, while the ban was imposed in other parts.
There will be a complete ban on the sale or use of all types of firecrackers in 14 districts of NCR namely Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Gurugram, Jhajjar, Jind, Karnal, Mahendragarh, Nuh, Palwal, Panipat, Rewari, Rohtak and others. Sonipat,” as per the order issued by the State Disaster Management Authority on the regulation of sale and use of firecrackers in the state.
There are altogether 22 districts in Haryana.
The directive will also be applicable to all cities and towns in the state where the average of ambient air quality during November (as per available data for the previous year) is in the categories of “poor” and above.
The order states that in cities and towns where the air quality is in the “medium” or below category, only green crackers will be sold.
The order states that only green crackers will be sold in cities and towns where the air quality is in the “moderate” or below category, the order said, allowing bursting of crackers during Diwali and other festivals such as Gurupurab. Only from 8 pm to 8 pm. 10 pm
Permission will be given for Chhath festival from 6 am to 8 am.
Fireworks will be allowed for Christmas and New Years from 11.55 pm on December 24 to 12.30 pm on December 25 and from 11.55 pm on December 31 to 12.30 pm on January 1.
Haryana State Pollution Control Board will release the list of these cities and towns separately and make it available on its website.
In areas where there are no restrictions, bursting of firecrackers will be encouraged in communities, it said, adding that designated areas will be pre-identified by the authorities concerned.
Only green firecrackers will be allowed on marriages and other occasions.
The sale of firecrackers will be through licensed merchants only and e-commerce portals including Flipkart and Amazon will not be allowed to sell firecrackers, it said.
The guidelines said the decision was taken after considering the Covid pandemic and the coming winter season during which the elderly, children and people with comorbidities may have respiratory problems.
“During Diwali, Gurupurab and Kartik Purnima, Christmas and New Year, people usually burst crackers, which may adversely affect the respiratory health of vulnerable groups, besides, the health status of COVID-19 positive people in home isolation. can increase,” it said.
The state will conduct short-term monitoring in cities for 14 days starting immediately for standards like aluminum, barium, iron, besides regulatory standards against the short-term Ambient Air Quality Criterion Values (AAQCV) proposed by the Pollution Board. Central Pollution Control Board regarding bursting of crackers
.