Restrictions for bursting crackers in TN on Deepavali

CHENNAI: With only a few days remaining for the Deepavali festival, the state pollution control board has issued an order permitting bursting of fire crackers between 6 am to 7 am and 7 pm and 8 pm only.

In a statement, TNPCB said that bursting of fire crackers causes land, water and air pollution and ultimately impacts the environment. "In this regard, a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Supreme Court of India with a request to ban the production and sale of crackers. The Court has also directed to create adequate awareness on the pollution of air due to bursting of crackers and to encourage the community fire cracking at particular periods of time," the statement said.

The statement added that based on the order, the State government permitted bursting of crackers between 6 am to 7 am and 7 pm and 8 pm only from 2018. "Similarly this year also, the government has permitted bursting crackers between 6 am to 7 am and 7 pm and 8 pm," it added.

As per the order, the public should burst fire crackers of less polluting and low sound generating green crackers. "Burst crackers as community fire cracking in a common place with the permission of district administration or local bodies through the local Welfare Associations and others."

Avoid bursting of joined (series) fire crackers which creates huge noise. Also, citizens are requested to avoid bursting firecrackers near hospitals, schools, courts, religious places, huts and fire prone areas.