Haryana, which had announced a ban on the sale of firecrackers in the state, has now allowed firecrackers to burst for two hours during upcoming festivals, including Diwali.
Read also | NGT bans the sale and use of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR until Nov 30, Haryana allows limited use
In an order, dated November 8, the Haryana government said the decision had been made to strike a “balance” between the potentially harmful consequences of popping cookies amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the economic impact of the ban on small businesses.
“Considering that in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic that the state of Haryana is going through and considering the imminent winter season during which the elderly, children, people with comorbidities and others, can develop respiratory problems,” said the order signed by the Chief Secretary -cum-chairman of the executive committee of the state of Haryana.
Read also | After ‘complete ban’, Haryana government allows two-hour cookie-busting on Diwali
“And while during the upcoming Diwali, Gurupurab and Kartik Purnima festive season, people often pop cookies that can affect the respiratory health of vulnerable groups and aggravate the health status of Covid-19 positive people and people in home isolation, “adds the order. said.
“Exercising the powers conferred on me by the Disaster Management Act of 2005,” the order quoted the chief secretary as saying that the explosion of firecrackers will only be allowed between 8 pm and 10 pm during upcoming festivals such as Diwali and Gurupurab. However, on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, according to the order, firecrackers will be allowed between 11:55 pm and 00:30 am.
The order also directed concerned authorities to pre-identify areas / fields to promote community fire cracking. Anyone violating the guidelines, he said, would be punished under Section 51-60 of the Disaster Management Act, as well as Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other provisions.
Last week, the Manohar Lal Khattar state government had initially announced a ban only on the sale of imported firecrackers, which, on Friday, was changed to all firecrackers. Then on Sunday, Khattar said that people can pop cookies for two hours.
Read also | Haryana bans the sale of firecrackers
Several states, including Delhi and West Bengal, have announced a total ban on firecrackers in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and air pollution. Maharashtra, on the other hand, has not announced a ban, but Prime Minister Uddhav Thackeray has urged citizens to exercise discipline.
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