Restrictions on sale and use of crackers on Diwali

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TEZPUR: Anticipating breach of peace and deterioration of law-and-order situation in the district during Diwali festival by anti-social elements, and also increase in sound pollution in the district, the Sonitpur district administration under provisions of Section 144 Cr.P.C. has prohibited the bursting of sound-producing crackers during Diwali, restricting the time of bursting firecrackers to only two hours between 8 PM and 10pm.

Citing an order by the Supreme Court of India, the district administration has also banned the manufacture/ sale and use of fire crackers generating noise level exceeding 125 decibel (A1) or 145 decibel (c) pk at 4 meters distance from the point of bursting. Use of fire crackers at any time in the Silence Zones as declared by competent authority i.e., area comprising not less any 100 m around hospitals, educational institutes, court, etc., has also been prohibited. Moreover, sale of fire-crackers on the side of public roads (both in town and rural area) except the designated areas by competent authority concerned, has been banned.

In addition, the district administration has also imposed various restrictions for sale and storage of firecrackers meant for sale. Wholesalers will be required to obtain separate permission for retail sale and only valid retail license holders will be able to purchase firecrackers from wholesalers. All wholesalers will be required to maintain a register of license holders who purchased crackers from them. All firecrackers shall be kept in a shed made of non-inflammable materials, which is closed, secure and inaccessible to unauthorized persons. No oil burning lamps, gas lamps or naked lights will be used in and around the shed.

Display of fireworks will not be allowed within 50 metres of any storage shed and not more than 50 shops will be permitted to be set up in one cluster. The order will come into effect from November 11, 2020 and will remain in force until further order. Any violation of this order will be punishable under provision of Section 188 IPC.

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