Patiala, October 17-Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Additional District Magistrate of Patiala Jagjit Singh has issued orders to follow the guidelines issued under Explosives Rules-2008 by Department of Industry and Commerce Punjab. Accordingly, the temporary license to be issued in the district for the sale of firecrackers on the occasion of Diwali and Gurpurab and apart from this, the time for firing firecrackers on the day of Diwali, Gurpurab, Christmas and New Year within the district as per the guidelines of the Hon'ble High Court was also fixed. is
The Additional District Magistrate said that as per the order passed by the Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court on 13 October 2017 under Civil Writ Petition No. 23548, a provisional license will be issued for the sale of firecrackers within the district Patiala. According to the draw, crackers can be sold by the allottee only from 10 am to 7.30 pm at the designated place and during this period compliance with the prescribed rules will be ensured. Sale of banned crackers is prohibited.
He said that in Civil Writ Petition No. 728 of 2015 dated 23-10-2018 from the Hon'ble Supreme Court, firecrackers should be fired within the stipulated time under the exemption given for firing firecrackers on the occasion of Diwali, Guparpurab, Christmas and New Year.
He said that on Diwali day, firecrackers from 8 pm to 10 pm, on Gurpurab day from 4 am to 5 am and at night from 9 pm to 10 pm. Fireworks are scheduled from 11.55pm to 12.30am on Christmas Eve and similarly on New Year's Eve from 11.55pm to 12.30am. Firecrackers of any kind before and after this time will be prohibited and action will be taken against violators.
The Additional District Magistrate further said that it will be necessary for the marriage palace owner to obtain a license in this regard to set off firecrackers during wedding ceremonies and ensure compliance with safety rules. Apart from this, a license is also required to set off firecrackers during Shobha Yatra, Nagar Kirtan, Prabhat Feri and other events. Meanwhile, there will be a complete ban on firecrackers in densely populated areas and fire prone areas.
The Additional District Magistrate said that he has issued instructions to the Municipal Corporation Commissioner, SSP, all SDMs, Executive Engineer Punjab Pollution Prevention Board to take necessary action. He said that in the area where firecrackers are set off before or after the prescribed time, it will be the responsibility of the police chief of that area to take action against the violators.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Jagjit Singh appealed to the people of the district that as per the orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the general public should set off firecrackers only within the stipulated time. He said that while firecrackers have bad effects on the environment, their noise and pollution also have a bad effect on humans as well as animals, for which common people should refrain from firing firecrackers as much as possible to do