The Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday went ahead and put out an official post on restricted fire cracker usage this Diwali.
In line with the NGT order, on Diwali we will be allowing only green crackers for 2 hours (8-10 PM) across Punjab except where total ban has been imposed because of poor AQI. Orders for Guru Purab & Christmas also issued. I urge everyone to abide by these restrictions. pic.twitter.com/nX70ImsiwA
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 10, 2020
The ban came into effect on Nov 9th at midnight and is in place until November 20th or December 1st—depending on the poor Air Pollution Levels (AQIs).
As per his tweet, only environmently friendly firecrackers are allowed which are in line with directions given from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), as well as, various judicial orders passed amid the reports of the fire-crackers likely to worsen the unprecedented COVID19 health crisis.
On Diwali day Nov 14th green crackers can be lit for two hours from 8 pm to 10 pm. On Guru Nanak's birthday on November 30th it would be allowed from 4 am to 5 am and then again from 9 pm to 10 pm. On Christmas Eve, people can light crackers from 11:55 pm till 12:30 am.
Minister Singh directed the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment to issue the mandatory notification through a virtual meeting.