Burst crackers from 8 to 10 pm on Diwali

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 24

In continuation of the Supreme Court orders of 2018 following rising air pollution levels in the country, the Punjab Government has fixed timings for bursting crackers on Diwali, Dasehra, Gurpurb, Christmas and New Year. Stubble-burning started in the state from September 21 and till October 22, over 11,000 farm fires have been recorded.

For the past two years, the state government has issued directions to all district police wings to register cases against anyone found violating the SC orders pertaining to

bursting crackers.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and police officials said they would keep a vigil and register cases against anyone flouting the time limit.

As per the new guidelines issued by the PPCB, firecrackers will be allowed from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali and Gurpurb, 5 pm to 8 pm on Dasehra and from 11.55 pm to 5.30 am on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Experts said the air quality could further dip following farm fires that started this week in the Malwa belt of the state. “While the Majha belt consisting of border areas has completed harvesting, the Malwa belt has just started harvesting the crop and thus the air quality can dip in the coming fortnight,” they said.