Bursting Of Firecrackers After 10 PM On Diwali Will Invite Action In Bhubaneswar, Cuttack: Police

Bhubaneswar: People in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar will not be allowed to burst firecrackers after 10 pm during Diwali celebrations, the Commissionerate police said on Friday.

Action will be taken against those found bursting firecrackers on Diwali in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack after 10 PM, according to Police Commissioner Saumyendra Kumar Priyadarsi.

While bursting of firecrackers on Diwali after 10 PM has been prohibited, only green crackers are allowed. Firecrackers producing sound above 125 decibels have been banned and police and action will be taken against the violators.

Special squads have been formed to check illegal bursting of crackers, police said.

The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has also imposed restrictions on bursting of firecrackers on Diwali. While only green crackers will be allowed, use of firecrackers having barium nitrate has been prohibited.

The move came after the Supreme Court ordered ban on firecrackers containing barium nitrate across the country and not just Delhi-NCR region.

People in Odisha will be allowed to burst permissible crackers between 6 am and 10 pm on Diwali.
Crackers which can produce sound of more than 125 decibel have been banned by the board. Letters were issued to all districts in this regard.

Bursting crackers within 100-meter radius of educational institutions, healthcare facilities and religious institutions will not be allowed. The district administrations will ensure adherence to the guidelines.