Only two hour window to burst firecrackers on Diwali: Punjab govt

According to the Punjab government's recent notice people in Punjab can burst firecrackers only for two hour on the occasion of Diwali on October 24.

On Diwali, firecrackers will be allowed to burst in the state for two hours from 8 pm to 10 pm, said the govt statement.

Apart from Diwali, crackers will be permitted for one hour from 4 am to 5 am and one hour from 9 to 10 pm on November 8, Prakash Purab day of Sri Guru Nanak Dev announced Punjab Environment, Science and Technology Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer.


The restriction was imposed by the Punjab government on Wednesday after clear directions were directed by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal, the department of environment, science and technology to district administrations regarding the time limit for bursting firecrackers for strict implementation.

The manufacture, stock, distribution, sale and use of joined fire crackers is hereby banned in the state and only the green crackers (those crackers that do not use barium salts or compounds of antimony, lithium, mercury arsenic, strontium, chromate) would be allowed for sale, Hayer said.

The sale shall only be through licensed traders and it shall be ensured that the licensed traders are selling the permitted firecrackers, the statement said.

Besides, they will also be allowed for 35 minutes each on Christmas and New Year's eve from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am, he said.