Ahead of festive season, Chandigarh Admn bans firecrackers

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 6

Ahead of the festive season, the UT Administration has imposed a ban on the sale or use of firecrackers of any kind in the city.

The ban will come into force with immediate effect and will remain in effect till further orders. The Administration imposed the ban under the Disaster Management Act. Any violation of the order will invite penal action under Section 51 to 60 of the Act, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC.

“The directions have been issued as a containment measure to prevent the risk of spread of Covid-19 due to pollution created with the bursting of crackers,” said Manoj Parida, UT Adviser-cum-Chairman, State Disaster Management Authority.

Traders oppose UT move

We oppose the decision of the UT Administration to ban crackers just seven-eight days before Diwali. Traders have already purchased stocks and the move will cause a big loss to them. — Charanjiv Singh, chairman, Chd Beopar Mandal

Recently, the Administration had put the issuance of temporary licence for selling crackers on hold despite conducting a draw of lots.

Ahead of festive season, Admn bans firecrackers

Hailing the decision, Ajay Jagga, member, Rogi Kalyan Samiti, said the ban would bring the much-needed relief to all those affected by the pandemic, senior citizens and children.

He said the ban was needed in view of the ill effects of pollution due to burning of crackers on the lungs of people, especially senior citizens, children and those who are in isolation and quarantine.

Necessary to prevent second wave of Covid

It is necessary to prohibit the sale and use of firecrackers to prevent a second wave of coronavirus. — Manoj Parida, UT Adviser-cum-Chairman, State Disaster Management Authority

He said health experts had warned that air pollutants from firecrackers would aggravate allergies and increase the risk of Covid transmission.

Vinod Vashisht, convener, City Forum of Residents Welfare Organisations, said, “While we await the National Green Tribunal to pronounce an order on November 9, the Administration may consider sale or use of green crackers as was allowed by the Supreme Court in 2018.”

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had recently issued notice and sought reply from the UT Administration on prohibiting the use of firecrackers.

“We oppose the decision of the UT Administration to ban crackers just seven-eight days before Diwali. Traders have already purchased stock and the move will cause a big loss to them. The UT should have taken this decision at least a month before Diwali if it was required to stop the spread of the virus. The Administration should review the decision,” said Charanjiv Singh, chairman, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal.