Deepawali: Govt restricts firecrackers between 8 pm-10 pm

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In its most recent decision, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has instructed officials to limit the use of fireworks during the Deepawali festival to a specific time frame, between 8 pm and 10 pm.

This directive was prompted by a tragic incident in Attibele, where a fire in a fireworks storage facility resulted in the loss of 17 lives.

The Pollution Control Board officials in Karnataka have taken a strict stance against the sale of non-environmentally friendly fireworks, and they have established a special task force to ensure that only "green" fireworks are sold.

The Department of Municipal Administration has directed authorities, civic agencies, and corporations throughout the state to enforce this two-hour restriction on fireworks, following the guidelines provided by the KSPCB.

These guidelines align with a directive from the Supreme Court (SC) and have been issued to ensure that air quality remains at an acceptable level.

The KSPCB's circular refers to a Supreme Court ruling from October 2018, which prohibited the use of non-environmentally friendly fireworks nationwide.

The ruling also specified the time window for setting off these fireworks (from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and prohibited the sale or use of fireworks near schools and hospitals.

This decision was influenced by a residents' group advocating for regulations that prioritise safety, improve air quality, and reduce noise pollution, particularly in response to the tragic fire incident that occurred in October at a firecracker warehouse in Attibele.