(Image source from: NDTV.Com)
The Tamil Nadu government Friday said people in the state would be allowed to burst firecrackers between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Diwali, which falls o November 6 in the states, in line with the Supreme Court pronouncement.
The government has issued a set of guidelines over bursting of crackers, including avoiding certain types of fireworks.
It also appealed to Diwali revelers to forfeit crackers with high decibel and pollution levels and avoid bursting firecrackers near hospitals, places of worship, near huts and other facilities that could easily catch fire.
"Based on the Supreme Court verdict, the Tamil Nadu government permits bursting of crackers between 6 am and 7 am and 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.," a release said.
The government also said residents welfare associations can take steps to ensure that people burst crackers in groups in open spaces after obtaining due permission from the respective local bodies. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board would survey the air quality seven days ahead and after the celebration in all the corporation limits.
"Let us all celebrate a mishap-free and pollution-free Diwali," the release said and extended its festival greetings.
It evoked the Supreme Court directions to the state government to implement former's original order on limiting bursting of crackers to the two-hour slot though it had sought extra time.
-Sowmya Sangam
