Haryana bans fire crackers in 14 districts, restricts use in others

Haryana has imposed a ban on sale and use of all kinds of fire crackers in 14 districts near the national capital of Delhi.

The districts where the ban has been imposed include Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Gurugram, Jhajjar, Jind, Karnal, Mahendragarh, Nuh, Palwal, Panipat, Rewari, Rohtak and Sonipat.

The directive will also apply to all cities and towns in the state where the average ambient air quality for November (as per last year's data) comes under "poor" and above categories.


Only green crackers shall be sold in cities and towns where the air quality is in the "moderate" or below category, the order said, adding that the bursting of crackers during Diwali and other festivals such as Gurupurab will be allowed only from 8 pm to 10 pm.

For Chatt festival, the same will be allowed from 6 am to 8 am, the government order on the regulation of sale and use of fire crackers in the state, read.

Fireworks will be permitted from 11.55 pm on December 24 to 12.30 am on December 25 and from 11.55 pm on December 31 to 12.30 am on January 1, for Christmas and New Year, it pointed out.

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board will separately issue a list of these cities and towns and make it available on its website.