KSPCB issues curbs on use of firecrackers

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Ahead of the Deepavali festival next week, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has issued a circular to all the district officers regarding the use of firecrackers.

The board has directed the officers to strictly implement the orders of the Supreme Court, which specifies guidelines on timings and usage of crackers.

The Supreme Court only allows the usage of green firecrackers, whereas the sale and usage of other firecrackers is banned. The firecrackers can be lighted only between 8 pm and 10 pm. The officials have been told to measure air and sound pollution in all districts starting a week before the festival and must continue it till a week after the festival, from October 17 to October 31.

Reports of these recordings must be sent to the department within the deadline of November 5. They have also been told to take steps to monitor noise pollution. Authorities have been told to conduct awareness programmes in line with the recent Supreme Court order regarding the usage of crackers.

Along with this, they must also conduct programmes that will bring about environmental awareness – may it be by friendly celebrations, pamphlets, and videos shown to people at public spaces such as railway stations and bus stands.

They are also provided with directions regarding the disposal of waste that will be collected after the celebrations. The Supreme Court in 2018 had ordered the ban of firecrackers other than the ones that are classified as green and had limited the usage timings from 8 pm to 10 pm.