Section 144 CrPC imposed restricting firecracker use in East Jaintia Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 2, 2021

The District Magistrate, East Jaintia Hills District E Kharmalki on Tuesday informed that Diwali will be celebrated on the 4th November, 2021  in the whole of East Jaintia Hills District.During the course of the celebration of the festival, bursting of firecrackers in public places and public thoroughfares, if unregulated, will significantly affect the air quality and will produce a large volume of noise. He also stated that the bursting of crackers leads to increased air pollution which will have an adverse impact on health, and hence it is deemed necessary to ban certain categories of firecrackers and restrict the timing for the usage of all others.

The District Magistrate has aslo informed that the Hon’ble NGT in an order dated 9.11.2020  has noted that air pollution from all sources has to be contained in view of potential aggravation of COVID-19, and hence there is a felt need to restrict the usage of firecrackers. The Government has also directed that the sale and usage of foreign-made firecrackers are strictly prohibited.

Therefore,  the District Magistrate East Jaintia Hills has issued an order under section 144 Cr.P.C prohibiting sale, purchase, and procurement of foreign-made firecrackers, use of joined firecrackers (Series crackers or Iaris) which cause huge air, noise and solid waste problems, use of firecrackers generating noise level exceeding 125 dB (A1) of 145 dB (C) Pk at 4 meters distance from the point of bursting. The Order also prohibits bursting of crackers within 100 meters of Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Primary And District Health Care Centers, Educational Institutions, Courts, Religious Places, or any other areas which may have been declared as silent zones by the concerned authorities.

The District Magistrate has also directed that the bursting of firecrackers is permitted only from 8 Pm to 10 PM on the  4th of November, 2021. Furthermore, the sale of firecrackers shall only be through licensed traders and it shall be ensured that these licensed traders sell only those firecrackers which have been permitted by the office of the District Magistrate, East Jaintia Hills District and are in compliance to Central Pollution Control Board guidelines.

This order shall come into force with immediate effect and remain in force till the celebration of New Year is over.