This year, people in Punjab will only be allowed to use green firecrackers during Diwali, Gurpurab, and Christmas, as per the latest directives from the Punjab government. The decision, aimed at protecting public health and reducing air pollution, includes a complete ban on burning or storing firecracker chains. Additionally, the sale of firecrackers on e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart and Amazon has been prohibited.
Strict action will be taken against those who violate these guidelines. The government has instructed all Deputy Commissioners to launch awareness campaigns educating the public about the harmful effects of firecrackers. Firecrackers will only be sold at designated locations by licensed vendors.
The government has also set specific time slots for bursting firecrackers. On Diwali (October 31, 2024), people will be allowed to use firecrackers from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. For Gurpurab (November 15, 2024), firecrackers can be burst from 4:00 AM to 5:00 AM and again from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM. On Christmas Eve (December 25-26, 2024) and New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2024 – January 1, 2025), firecrackers will be permitted from 11:55 PM to 12:30 AM.
The government order emphasizes that only licensed vendors can sell firecrackers, and sales will be restricted to specific locations. Firecrackers that exceed the prescribed noise limits will be banned from storage, display, and sale. The guidelines, in accordance with the Supreme Court and NGT rulings, are already in place. Authorities have appealed to the public to cooperate with these measures to ensure a safe and pollution-free festive season.
