Diwali 2021: Bursting of Crackers in Guwahati Refinery Area Prohibited

GUWAHATI: The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Diganta Kr Choudhury, has issued an order restricting the usage and exploding of firecrackers near the Guwahati Refinery and near old pine lines inside Guwahati's Central Police District. 

The ban on firecrackers was imposed to protect the Guwahati Refinery with possible inflammation of volatile petroleum stored in the Refinery, Noonmati Oil India Pumping Station and pumped through the Oil pipelines passing through Central Police District, Guwahati. Bursting of crackers near such a cautious place might result in tremendous dangerous accidents.

Earlier, there was an imposition of a time limit on bursting crackers for the coming festivals like Diwali, Chhat Puja, and Christmas eve. The order banning the use and sale of firecrackers will remain in force during Dipawali, a senior official of Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) said here on Sunday.

Earlier, the Pollution Control Board (PCB) has published guidelines stating, a complete ban on selling and bursting any traditional firecrackers until further notice. The time frame has been set up by the PCB for 2 hours maximum, from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali and only Green Crackers are allowed to be sold and purchased in the state. Meanwhile, crackers are allowed for Chhat puja from 6 am to 8 am and on Christmas Eve as well from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am.

However, three days later, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government would review the PCBA's order keeping people's sentiments in mind'. HE said that the PCBA issued the order without 'any consultation' with the State government. 

On October 29, the Supreme Court clarified that there was no total ban on the use of firecrackers but only fireworks with barium salts were prohibited. Fireworks with barium compounds produce more smoke when they burn. "It is made clear that there is no total ban on the use of firecrackers," the court said.

Also Read: Assam Pollution Control Board Issues Guidelines Ahead of Diwali 2021

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