Jaipur: The Rajasthan government on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines to curb air pollution during Diwali, restricting the sale and use of firecrackers in six districts falling under the National Capital Region (NCR), officials said. Under the new rules, firecrackers will be permitted for only two days in these districts, with bursting allowed for a maximum of three hours a day. Only certified green firecrackers will be permitted, while all other varieties will remain prohibited, and every packet of green firecrackers must carry a QR code.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

According to the directives shared by the Rajasthan Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), only CSIR-NEERI-certified green crackers will be permitted for sale and use in the NCR region. These crackers can be burst only on November 7 and 8, between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The sale of firecrackers without QR codes is prohibited, officials said.

6Rajasthan districts under the NCR cracker rules
7-8 NovOnly days on which bursting is allowed
6-7 am, 8-10 pmBursting windows on each permitted day
300 metresNo-bursting radius around hospitals and schools, as reported

Sales, inspections and monitoring

Sales are permitted only through authorised outlets and online sales stand banned, according to the reported guidelines. Bursting has also been banned within a 300-metre radius of hospitals, healthcare centres and educational institutions. District Collectors and police officials have been directed to prevent the illegal sale, storage and supply of firecrackers, special inspection teams will check shops and warehouses, and vehicles entering Rajasthan from the Delhi-NCR region will be screened. Violations will invite seizure of the firecrackers and legal action under the Environment (Protection) Act, the guidelines say.

Source: NationPress

The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and district-level authorities will monitor pollution levels daily during and after Diwali, officials said. The state release did not individually list the names of the six NCR districts in the reports of the guidelines. The Rajasthan windows match the limited green-cracker use the Supreme Court permitted across Delhi-NCR for November 7 and 8, with the complete ban directed to resume on November 9.