The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has announced specific time windows for bursting firecrackers to reduce noise and pollution.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has announced that residents can only burst firecrackers during two one-hour windows on Deepavali. According to reports by Urban Acres and The Hindu, the permitted timings are from 6 am to 7 am and from 7 pm to 8 pm.
The TNPCB stated that the arrangement follows directions from the Supreme Court to limit noise and pollution during the festival. The board has appealed to the public to celebrate in an environment-friendly manner by using low-noise, less-polluting green firecrackers.
The restrictions on firecracker use have been in place since 2018, following a Supreme Court direction issued on October 23, 2018. The court had directed manufacturers to use raw materials that reduce emissions and to manufacture green firecrackers.
The TNPCB cautioned that firecrackers can cause temporary or permanent hearing impairment and contribute to air, water, and land pollution. The board advised people to avoid bursting series firecrackers that generate high noise levels.
Residents have been advised to burst firecrackers at designated common locations after obtaining permission from local bodies or district administration. The board also stated that firecrackers should not be burst in silence zones, such as near schools, hospitals, courts, or places of worship.
