GUWAHATI: Despite the imposition of guidelines set by Guwahati Police to prohibit the bursting of firecrackers after 10 PM, Guwahati continues to witness the opposite happen during Diwali.
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The bursting of firecrackers have gone till the late hours of the night, sometimes crossing 3 AM. Locations like Lachit Nagar, Sawkuchi, and Zoo Road have reportedly been seen residents taking to the streets to celebrate the pompour of fireworks past midnight.
The authorities had previously limited the bursting of firecrackers between 8 PM and 10 PM, reminding the public that violating the time limit could lead to fines and other penalties. But most of the guidelines have been largely ignored in a lot of areas.
“Diwali comes only once a year,” talking to GPlus, a resident defended his decision. “What’s the point of celebrating it if we have to adhere to every rule in the block?”
“This doesn’t happen often,” said another resident. “It’s only for two or three days. There’s no point making a fuss about it when there are bigger issues to be addressed within the city.”
However, not all residents were unilateral with this sentiment, as an elderly citizen shared a different point of view on the matter. “I have to go to sleep early,” she said. “It’s difficult to do that when firecrackers continue to make noises after late night.”
Incidentally, it may be noted that the restrictions were part of an effort to control Guwahati’s noise and air pollution during this time of the year, with authorities stressing that late-night celebrations could impact public health, particularly for elderly citizens, children, and even pets.
However, Guwahati Police has yet to release an official statement on any action taken against those who have flouted the guidelines, as of right now.