Firecrackers will only be allowed for 2 hours on Deepavali in Puducherry

Bursting of firecrackers will be permitted only for two hours - from 6 am to 7 am and from 7 pm to 8 pm on Deepavali day in Puducherry, as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

In a press release the Puducherry administration, citing the Supreme Court order said that bursting of fire crackers has completely prohibited at any time in silence zones, i.e. within 100m around hospitals, religious places, educational institutions and court buildings.

It should be ensured by Police, revenue department and pollution control board. It is also informed that no



online websites shall accept any online orders and effect any online sales.

Only those crackers whose sound level are within the limits are allowed in the market and the licenses of manufacturers on account of any violations will be suspended.

It is further stated in the release that the use of barium salts in fire works and series crackers also banned. Crackers with permitted chemicals would be sold through licenced traders. If they found manufacturing banned fire works their licence will be suspended.