Diwali 2023: Check Time Slot For Bursting Firecrackers In Your City

In response to the recent tragic fire incident in Attibele, wherein 17 lives were lost due to a fire in a cracker warehouse, the Karnataka state government has taken new measures to regulate the bursting of crackers during the Deepawali festival. Officials have been directed to limit cracker bursting to the hours of 8 pm to 10 pm only.

The Karnataka Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has taken a stringent stance against the sale of non-environmentally friendly crackers, forming a special task force to ensure the sale of only "green" fireworks.

The Department of Municipal Administration has instructed authorities, civic agencies, and corporations throughout the state to enforce the two-hour rule for cracker bursting. These guidelines align with the directives issued by the KSPCB and are in accordance with a Supreme Court (SC) ruling. A circular has been issued to ensure compliance with these guidelines, with the aim of maintaining desirable air quality levels.

The KSPCB cited a Supreme Court ruling from October 2018 that banned non-environmentally friendly firecrackers nationwide. The ruling specified a limited time frame for bursting crackers (8 pm to 10 pm) and prohibited the sale or use of crackers near schools and hospitals.