Bhubaneswar: In view of rising environmental concerns and the need to maintain air quality, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has issued comprehensive guidelines for Diwali. While Bhubaneswar’s current Air Quality Index (AQI) is hovering around 120 and 170, in the ‘moderate to unhealthy’ category, it had touched 354, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category during last Diwali.
The city also rang in 2026 under a blanket of severe pollution as late-night celebrations and fireworks drove the January 1 AQI to an alarming 305, spiking dangerous levels of lung-penetrating PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter.
The Board has advised people to restrict firecracker bursting to a two-hour window between 7 pm and 9 pm and has strongly promoted the use of certified green crackers in place of traditional fireworks.
Speaking to the media, OSPCB Chief Environmental Scientist Niranjan Mallik detailed the official directives, emphasising public safety, compliance with Supreme Court orders, and the strict promotion of green crackers. “We have issued an advisory, which was also published in newspapers. The Supreme Court has also urged people to use green crackers instead of traditional firecrackers. Traditional crackers contain harmful chemicals such as barium nitrate, lead, arsenic and lithium, which cause considerable damage to the environment and human health,” he said.
Consumers have been urged to verify authenticity by checking for CSIR-NEERI logos and QR codes on packaging before purchase, while district and police administrations have been empowered to monitor markets for compliance. Only approved green crackers may be used in open spaces, and the manufacture and sale of conventional firecrackers remain restricted.
The guidelines further specify that the noise level of firecrackers must not exceed 125 dB(AI). Bursting is prohibited in designated silence zones, including areas within 100 metres of hospitals, educational institutions, courts, religious places, parks and gardens, as well as near slums, shops, busy roads and fire-prone locations. Special protection has been extended to children, with the Board advising that those under the age of 10 should not be allowed to burst high-noise or high-impact firecrackers.
The administration has also strongly appealed to citizens to prioritise traditional celebrations by lighting earthen lamps (diyas) and focusing on community well-being rather than heavy reliance on commercial fireworks.
The State Pollution Control Board has dispatched advisory circulars in both Odia and English to all district collectors and superintendents of police, urging local administrations to ensure strict adherence. Officials stress that public cooperation is vital to ensuring a vibrant, safe and pollution-free festive season across Odisha.
Although the current air quality situation is not alarming, Mallik cautioned that pollution levels could rise if the guidelines are not followed, underlining the importance of keeping the AQI low for better public health.