GUWAHATI: The Deputy Commissioners of Police, under the Police Commissionerate, Guwahati, have been authorised to issue permits for retail and wholesale of firecrackers.
This delegation is in effect for a period of 12 days.
Instructions have been issued to ensure strict adherence to orders from various authorities, including the Supreme Court of India, Pollution Control Board, Assam, the National Green Tribunal, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
The Pollution Control Board of Assam has issued guidelines and directives to enforce the above regulations. These measures aim to ensure the safety of the public and the environment during the festive season.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in Guwahati has issued an order outlining stringent regulations for the sale of firecrackers during the upcoming festive season.
The key highlights of this order include:
1. Strict prohibition on the sale and use of firecrackers generating excessive noise levels, particularly those exceeding 125 dB(AI) or 145 dB(C)pk at a distance of 4 meters from the point of bursting.
2. Only legally procured and safe fireworks are permitted for sale.
3. The order strictly prohibits the use of fireworks in designated Silence Zones.
4. The public is permitted to burst green crackers only between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM on the occasion of Deepawali.
5. License holders will be held responsible if banned firecrackers are sold in their premises.
6. Only firecrackers of Indian origin and meeting safety criteria are permissible for sale.
7. A complete ban is imposed on the bursting of sound-emitting firecrackers between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM.
The directive also enforces strict adherence to the Explosives Rules 2008 to ensure the safe storage, display, and sale of fireworks. Some key points outlined in the order include:
A. Fireworks must be stored in sheds constructed of non-flammable materials. These sheds must remain closed and secure to prevent unauthorised access.
B. Sheds for the possession and sale of fireworks must be at least three meters apart from each other and fifty meters from any protected work.
C. Sheds must not face each other to minimise the risk of fire hazards.
D. Oil burning lamps, gas lamps, naked lights, agarbattis, or dhoop are strictly prohibited inside the sheds. Electrical lights, if used, must be securely fixed and not suspended by flexible wires. Additionally, each shop must have a master switch provided for each row of sheds.
E. Firework displays are not allowed within 50 meters of any shed to ensure safety.
F. Salespersons are required to wear cotton clothes during the period of firecracker sales.
In addition, the order allows retailers and shop owners with temporary firecracker licenses to purchase and possess a maximum of 100 kilograms of manufactured fireworks (Green Crackers) between November 8 and November 20.
The license remains valid for 12 days from November 8, 2023, for the sale of approved firecrackers.
The directive reiterates the importance of adhering to the prescribed safety measures and environmental regulations while celebrating the festive season with firecrackers.