Assam: Pollution board says ban on polluting firecrackers remains

GUWAHATI: The state Pollution Control Board (PCB) on Saturday reiterated that its order banning the use and sale of polluting firecrackers remains. There is, however, a confusion regarding the implementation of the ban as the police and district administrations have said it is difficult to keep a tab on where firecrackers are being sold and burst and if the lighted ones conform to green rules.

Ahead of Diwali on October 22 the PCB had imposed a complete ban on bursting and sale of firecrackers to curb air pollution, but three days later, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said the decision had been taken without 'any consultation' with the government and it will be reviewed keeping 'people's sentiments in mind'.
However, PCB chairman Arup Kumar Misra on Saturday told TOI that the complete ban on firecrackers remains and that even the latest Supreme Court order reiterates the ban.
"We have written to all deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) of the state to implement the directions and also ask the state police to take action against those who violate the norms. We had imposed a complete ban on the bursting of firecrackers even before the apex court order," Misra said.
Kamrup metropolitan deputy commissioner, Biswajit Pegu, said people will be allowed to burst green crackers during a two-hour window in compliance with the PCB and court orders.
"We will allow some specific places to burst green crackers and also give some designated place to sell the crackers. The police will be there to implement the directive," Pegu said.
However, a senior government official told TOI that it will be difficult to segregate the green crackers from the polluting ones. "If we conduct raids or start a crackdown against polluting firecrackers, there will be chaos. And it would be an impossible task for us to ascertain the veracity of the certificates of the crackers. The state government hasn't also instructed anything on the bursting of crackers," the official on condition of anonymity said.
Every year, Diwali night pushes the city's ambient air quality to dangerous levels affecting public health. The Supreme Court on Friday directed all the states/Union Territories to ensure the strict implementation of the order banning the use and sale of firecrackers made with barium salts.