Chandigarh November 11: In accordance with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines, Haryana Government has decided to impose a complete ban against the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in the districts adjoining National Capital Region (NCR) from midnight of November, 9 -10, 2020 to the midnight of November 30 to December 1, 2020. However, in other districts of Haryana, citizens can only burst crackers for two hours on Diwali, as earlier announced by the Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal.

Furthermore, as per air quality data of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ‘Fatehabad’, falling outside NCR has ‘severe’ air quality in November. Similarly, Hisar, Bahadurgarh, Ballabgarh, Dharuhera, Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Manesar are falling under ‘very poor’ category of air quality and Ambala, Narnaul, Palwal and Sirsa in ‘poor’ air quality, therefore adhering to the NGT orders, the sale and use of firecrackers will also be banned completely in these districts.

Sharing more details about the same, an official spokesman said that the cities or towns where air quality is ‘moderate’ or below, only green crackers be sold and the timings for use and bursting of crackers be restricted to two hours during festivals, like Diwali, Chatt, New Year, Christmas Eve, etc. as may be specified by the concerned State.

The spokesman said that the Chief Secretary, Mr. Vijai Vardhan has already issued a letter for compliance with the NGT orders to District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police and Haryana State Pollution Control in letter and spirit with immediate effect and appropriate enforcement guidelines in consonance with the directions of NGT should be accordingly issued.