No change in timings for bursting crackers on Deepavali: Official

“As the case related to bursting of crackers is still pending in the Supreme Court, the restriction will continue. The timings followed last year will be followed this year too,” said a senior official from the Department of Environment and Forests on condition of anonymity.

Last year, the Supreme Court has issued a blanket ban on sale of crackers in the National Capital Region, and also limited the timing for bursting crackers on the day of Deepavali to two hours. After holding discussions with stakeholders, Tamil Nadu government had fixed one slot each in the morning and evening – 6 to 7 am and 7 to 8 pm.

Though cracker manufacturing units protested the ban and urged the government to lift it, the restriction continues as the case is still pending in the apex court.

According to the official, the timings remain the same this year as well, as there has not been any demand so far to change it. “So far representatives from cracker industry have not met any government official with the demand. Hence, there will be no change. However, the final announcement will be made by the Chief Minister after the end of bypoll in two constituencies,” said the official.

Meanwhile, as the shopping hubs in the city are buzzing with festival shopping crowd, Chennai police have beefed up security arrangements at T Nagar, Ranganathan Street, Usman Road, Mambalam railway station and their neighbourhood. Police have deployed three ‘face tagger’ cameras, a drone camera and 50 new CCTV cameras – there already are 1,092 CCTV cameras within the jurisdiction of Mambalam police station. Three watch towers have been erected and 500 additional personnel have been deployed, many of them sporting body cams.