Firecrackers permitted only between 8 PM and 10 PM:Pollution Control Board to monitor air quality for 14 days before and after Diwali

The Indore district administration has directed strict enforcement of Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines regarding the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers during the Diwali festival. The order aims to ensure public safety and control air and noise pollution during the festive period. According to the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB), a standard operating procedure (SOP) has been issued for all districts. It mandates that only green crackers approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) may be used in areas where the Air Quality Index (AQI) was moderate or below in November 2021. Use of firecrackers will be permitted only between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, and completely banned in cities where the AQI was poor or above during the same reference period. ADM directs SDMs to ensure compliance Additional district magistrate (ADM) Roshan Rai said that all sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) have been instructed to enforce the directives and initiate penal action against those violating court or environmental orders. The ADM has also directed officials to monitor cracker sales and ensure compliance at manufacturing and distribution points. Ban on crackers in sensitive zones Cracker bursting will remain prohibited within 100 metres of hospitals, schools, religious places, and other silence zones. Police and district officials have been asked to ensure that these areas remain cracker-free throughout the festival. The administration clarified that green crackers can be identified by a special logo printed on packaging, and a list of licensed manufacturers is available on NEERI’s official website.
The approved types of green crackers include sparklers (phuljhadis), flowerpots (anars), and maroons. Crackers containing barium salts or toxic chemicals and series crackers (ladis) are strictly prohibited. The permissible sound limit of firecrackers has been capped at 125 decibels (dB(A)) when measured from a distance of 4 metres. Moreover, the online sale of firecrackers through platforms such as Amazon or Flipkart is not allowed. Monitoring and waste management As per the Supreme Court and NGT orders, the Central and State Pollution Control Boards will conduct ambient air quality monitoring for 14 days, seven days before and seven days after Diwali. Parameters will include levels of aluminium, barium, and iron, along with routine pollutants. Officials have also warned that post-firecracker waste, such as paper debris and half-burnt powder, poses risks to children, animals, and water sources. Citizens are urged not to dump such waste near natural water bodies or drinking water points. The Municipal Corporation and local bodies have been instructed to ensure separate collection and safe disposal of cracker residue after the festival. Residents have been asked to collect debris separately and hand it over to sanitation workers for proper disposal. Police issue safety guidelines for firecracker sellers The police have directed that all sellers ensure the following: DCP Kumar Prateek inspected cracker markets in Pardesipura, Vijay Nagar, and MIG police station areas, briefing traders and organizers on fire safety protocols, parking arrangements, and CCTV coverage.