Bursting of firecrackers restricted to two hours in Puducherry on Deepavali

The Puducherry government has stipulated that bursting of firecrackers during Deepavali celebrations should be restricted to two hours, following a directive of the Supreme Court.

Accordingly, the bursting of firecrackers shall be permitted only between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., said N. Ramesh, Member Secretary of the Puducherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC).

Besides, there will be a total prohibition on bursting firecrackers at any time in silence zones, i.e., within an area of not less than 100 metres around hospitals, religious places, educational institutions, and court buildings.

Urging the public to celebrate a noiseless and smokeless festival, the PPCC pointed out that firecrackers pollute the environment by causing noise and air pollution, which adversely affect human health. Firecrackers emit smoke, fine toxic dust, and harmful chemicals.

Bursting of firecrackers raise the risk of aggravation of respiratory diseases, injury to the eyes and other parts of the body, impairment of hearing capacity, visual impairment, insomnia, hypertension and disorientation.

The practice also causes distress to elderly persons, pregnant women, heart patients, asthma patients, infants and animals, including pets, the PPCC said.