GUWAHATI: Sale of non-green firecrackers in defiance of Supreme Court guidelines under the eyes of district administration continued in parts of Guwahati on the first day of Diwali festival on Sunday.
Although the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA), claiming that the manufacturing and sale of non-green firecrackers have declined sharply over the years, violations of the apex court’s guidelines were found at various markets in the city, including Fancy Bazar and Ganeshguri.
PCBA member secretary Shantanu Dutta said, “Even firecrackers containing barium nitrate and covered with green cracker shields are being sold by the traders, which is also a violation of SC guidelines. The PCBA is closely monitoring the violations and so is the district administration.” The Enforcement Agency. Action under the Environment (Protect) Act, 1986 will be initiated if anyone is found violating the guidelines.”
Meanwhile, a shopkeeper of Fancy Bazar refused to reveal his name but said he had no idea about the green crackers and the SC ban on making and selling firecrackers. “We are just traders. Suppliers supply us and we sell them. Suppliers bring most fireworks from out of state. We are worried about our business,” the shop owner said, adding that apart from the firecrackers, he also sold locally made green firecrackers from Barpeta district in lower Assam.
Kamrup District Administration (Metro) officials said that raids would be conducted in the city’s markets against those violating the norms and action would be taken against those found violating the norms as per the law.
Dutta said that in 2018, the Supreme Court banned the manufacture and sale of all firecrackers except “green crackers” and those with reduced emissions (improved crackers). It also banned the manufacture and sale of “joined crackers” (long rows of crackers joined together), banned the use of barium salts in fireworks, and required that noise levels be within permissible limits.
Dutta added that the National Green Tribunal in 2020 also banned the sale and use of all types of firecrackers in the NCR, saying the order would also apply to all cities and towns in the country where air quality is average During the year November (according to the available data from last year) falls into the “poor” category and above.
Although the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA), claiming that the manufacturing and sale of non-green firecrackers have declined sharply over the years, violations of the apex court’s guidelines were found at various markets in the city, including Fancy Bazar and Ganeshguri.
PCBA member secretary Shantanu Dutta said, “Even firecrackers containing barium nitrate and covered with green cracker shields are being sold by the traders, which is also a violation of SC guidelines. The PCBA is closely monitoring the violations and so is the district administration.” The Enforcement Agency. Action under the Environment (Protect) Act, 1986 will be initiated if anyone is found violating the guidelines.”
Meanwhile, a shopkeeper of Fancy Bazar refused to reveal his name but said he had no idea about the green crackers and the SC ban on making and selling firecrackers. “We are just traders. Suppliers supply us and we sell them. Suppliers bring most fireworks from out of state. We are worried about our business,” the shop owner said, adding that apart from the firecrackers, he also sold locally made green firecrackers from Barpeta district in lower Assam.
Kamrup District Administration (Metro) officials said that raids would be conducted in the city’s markets against those violating the norms and action would be taken against those found violating the norms as per the law.
Dutta said that in 2018, the Supreme Court banned the manufacture and sale of all firecrackers except “green crackers” and those with reduced emissions (improved crackers). It also banned the manufacture and sale of “joined crackers” (long rows of crackers joined together), banned the use of barium salts in fireworks, and required that noise levels be within permissible limits.
Dutta added that the National Green Tribunal in 2020 also banned the sale and use of all types of firecrackers in the NCR, saying the order would also apply to all cities and towns in the country where air quality is average During the year November (according to the available data from last year) falls into the “poor” category and above.
