Last update:October 30, 2024, 2:24 p.m. IST

Diwali will be celebrated on October 31. Due to pollution, various state governments have banned the use of firecrackers.

Diwali 2024 (PTI/Representative Image)

As pollution levels continue to rise in the run-up to winter, several states across the country have taken steps to prevent the situation from worsening during the festive season, ahead of Diwali and New Year .

Delhi imposed a complete ban on the sale of firecrackers while Bihar banned it in the capital Patna. Some other states have urged residents to stick to green crackers rather than traditional ones, which cause more pollution.

Delhi

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has completely banned the storage and sale of firecrackers till January 1, 2025. The government’s action comes as the city faces severe air pollution caused by several factors, including stubble burning in neighboring states during this season. The national capital was reeling under a consistent AQI of ‘Very Poor’ category for almost a week, before improving to ‘Poor’ two days before Diwali.

The government has allowed the use of green crackers between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Diwali.

Maharashtra

The state government has allowed the sale and use of green crackers. Mumbai Police has banned sky lanterns from October 23 to November 24. Enforcement on ground remains a challenge due to illegal importation of firecrackers from other states. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has urged Mumbaikars to observe the festivities in an eco-friendly manner by bursting fewer crackers polluting air and noise. He also appealed to citizens to limit firecracker blasts till 10 pm during Diwali.

Bihar

The state led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has imposed a complete ban on all kinds of crackers, including green ones, in cities like Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Hajipur, to reduce air pollution. In other cities, only green or eco-friendly crackers are allowed on the day of the festival.

West Bengal

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government has said that only green crackers certified as meeting the NGT guidelines will be allowed for sale and use. Residents of the capital Kolkata will be allowed to burst crackers between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Diwali.

Punjab

The AAP government in Punjab, which is under fire due to stubble burning during this season, has enforced strict regulations as per the directions of the Supreme Court and the NGT. The Bhagwant Mann government restricted the use of firecrackers on the occasion of Diwali and other festivals, while asking people to use only green firecrackers.

Limited time to burst crackers:

• Diwali (October 31): 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Gurpurab (November 15): 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Christmas (December 24-25): 11:55 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
• New Year’s Eve (December 31-January 1): 11:55 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Haryana

The new government of Nayab Singh Saini has urged people to use only green crackers. Gurugram, which is part of the NCR, has the same regulations as the national capital.

Karnataka

The Siddaramaiah-led government has urged residents not to use generic crackers and stick to using only green crackers during Diwali. The government has asked people to limit their fireworks displays to specific times, between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Firecrackers have not officially been banned in Karnataka.

Kerala

The state has asked residents to use only green crackers while restricting the use of firecrackers between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Diwali. The government has also set times for other festivals, for example from 11:55 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Tamilnadu

The government has urged people to opt for green crackers with low pollution and low noise, while making it mandatory to use crackers only between 6 am and 7 am and between 7 pm and 8 pm on Diwali.

Odisha

The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has asked people to burst firecrackers between 7 pm and 9 pm on Diwali. Only green crackers are allowed in open areas and the use of chemical firecrackers containing barium nitrate is prohibited, the statement said.