Shillong, Nov 10: With the upcoming Diwali festival scheduled for November 12, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills District, Shillong, has allowed the sale and purchase of firecrackers to be done only from the duly recognised retail outlets.
The prohibitory order also specified the use of fireworks and fire crackers from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“Fireworks and fire crackers are permitted to be lit only between 08:00 PM to 10:00 PM [In accordance with the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India ni Writ Petition (C) No.28 of 2015-Implementationof Judgement dated 23.10.2018.”, said the notification.
The fireworks are prohibited to be lit or burst in silence zones, i.e., an area of 100 metres away from hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health care centers, educational institutions, courts, religious places, or any other areas that may be declared silence zones by the concerned authorities.
The District Administration also mentioned that crackers with reduced emissions are to be sold. The manufacture, sale, and use of joined firecrackers (series crackers or laris) are hereby banned as they cause huge air, noise, and solid waste problems.
The notification added that the sale or use of firecrackers generating a noise level exceeding 125 dB (Al) or 145 dB (C) pk at 4 metres from the point of bursting shall be prohibited.
