Lko cops to ensure only ‘green’ crackers’ sale this Diwali
With the police commissionerate of Lucknow set to ensure sale and purchase of only ‘green’ (eco-friendly) crackers in the state capital, Lucknowites will enjoy a pollution-free Diwali this year.
The move comes after the Delhi government ordered sale of only eco-friendly crackers and decided to impose fine up to Rs 1 lakh on those found bursting crackers high on pollution.
“Sale of only those crackers that fulfill the criterion laid down by the Supreme Court would be allowed this year,” said Naveen Arora, joint commissioner of police (JCP), law and order (LO), Police Commissionerate Lucknow.
However, he said that the police were yet to take a call on the fine. He said that the issuing of license for the storage and sale of the crackers would be according to state government’s guidelines.
In its judgement, last October, the Supreme Court mandated use of green crackers for Diwali and prescribed specific norms for the manufacturers, ordering them to make milder versions of traditional crackers in terms of sound and smoke emission. Also, the SC had banned use of barium nitrate, a key pollutant in crackers and had directed the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), a part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to facilitate development of green crackers.
Police officials said this year they had made sure that only
permissible fire crackers hit the market. “We are also creating awareness among the masses, asking people to avoid bursting traditional crackers,” a police official said.
The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) too has take stern measures this year to ensure sale of only green crackers. “Last year the SCs order on use of green crackers came in October, which was just before Diwali. So we got little time to implement the order. However, this year we will ensure complete ban on the sale of traditional crackers, which are generally high on pollution quotient,” a UPPCB official said.
Dr Ram Karan, regional officer, Lucknow UPPCB said special teams had been constituted to check the sale and purchase of traditional crackers. “The teams would also check the violation of ‘Noise Pollution Rules, 2000’ which restrict use of fire crackers after 10pm,” added Karan.