A day after the Supreme Court banned sale of crackers in Delhi, the Bombay High Court today passed an order that prohibits setting up of firecrackers shops in residential areas in Maharashtra. The division bench headed by Justice VM Kanade said that the shops should ideally be set up in open spaces to minimise the damage caused in case of any accidents.
“Shops where firecrackers are stored should not be located in residential areas,” it said, adding that the civic bodies must ensure strict compliance of the rules related to the storage of small explosive devices.
The court noted that it is a common knowledge that there is a large demand for firecrackers. It said that there is nothing wrong with businessmen taking advantage of this demand and taking efforts to supply firecrackers. However, they have to ensure safety regulations are strictly adhered to while storing the same.
The Chhattisgarh government too imposed a ban on the use of firecrackers with high decibels and those highly contributing to air pollution during Diwali. Besides, a special public awareness campaign will be undertaken seeking support of people to prevent air and sound pollution during the ensuing festival.
Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) Chairman Aman Kumar Singh in a circular to all division commissioners, collectors and superintendents of police has asked them to take effective steps to ensure restriction on sale and use of high decibel firecrackers in their respective areas.
Moreover, as per the circular, the bursting of the firecrackers will be prohibited between 10 pm to 6 am. Also a distance of at least 100 metres should be maintained from hospitals, educational institutes, religious places while bursting crackers.
The development comes a day after the Supreme Court banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR till November 1.
Meanwhile, the RSS has termed the apex court order as anti-Hindu.
On the other hand, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy took to micro-blogging site Twitter to express his views on the matter. He said the SC could next impose ban on the Hindu cremations.
“First Dahi Handi, now crackers. You never know, tomorrow the award wapsi brigade and those carrying out candle marches might file a litigation against the last rites ritual of Hindus, too," he tweeted.
