CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh administration on Tuesday imposed a complete ban on the sale and use of crackers till further orders in the jurisdiction of Chandigarh.
The order was issued after a detailed meeting chaired by UT adviser Dharam Pal, attended by home secretary Nitin Yadav, health secretary Yashpal Garg, director (environment) Debendra Dalai and senior doctors.
The order reads: “In exercise of powers conferred on the undersigned as chairperson of the Disaster Executive Committee of State Disaster Management Authority, I hereby order, a complete ban on the sale and use of crackers of any kind, throughout Chandigarh. These directions are issued as a containment measure to prevent risk of spread of Covid-19, due to polluted atmosphere created by bursting of crackers”
The order adds: “These orders will come into force with immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders”.
TOI was first to report about UT’s proposal to ban crackers. In the meeting, officials submitted that there was improvement in the air quality last year when the ban was imposed, in comparison to 2019. They also submitted that there were less accidents and injuries related to fire crackers in 2020, in comparison to 2019.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), in its order last year, had stated that there would be a complete ban on all cities and towns in the country where the average of ambient air quality (AQI) during November (as per available data of previous year) fell under “poor and above category”.
TRADERS OPPOSE UT’S DECISION
Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) and Chandigarh Cracker Dealers’ Association opposed the ban on sale and use of crackers. CBM president Charanjiv Singh said the administration should have followed the pattern of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Cracker dealers’ association president Devinder Gupta said the ban was not a solution, rather the UT should have kept a time limit
MC PERMISSION TO STALLS, EXCEPT FOR SECTORS 17 AND 22, FROM OCTOBER 13
Barring sectors 17 and 22, Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) will start giving permission to set up temporary stalls in all markets of the city during festive season from October 13. As per MC orders, permission for the period from Dussehra to Diwali (for 20 days) will be given on October 13 and 14. The coupons will be issued on first come, first serve basis. MC also clarified that anyone found to have set up a stall without coupon will be charged double the rate or stall could be removed without notice
Officers cite last year’s order too
The officials also submitted orders issued last year by former UT adviser Manoj Parida, as chairperson of the disaster executive committee of State Disaster Management Authority, for banning the sale and use of crackers, which are still in force. Besides, doctors submitted before the adviser that due to bursting of crackers, patients and elderly faced breathing difficulty. After considering all points, the adviser decided to impose a ban on sale and use of crackers in Chandigarh till further orders. Pal said instructions had also been issued to police to ensure the ban. He appealed to residents to inform police if they spot any violators. He assured that the identity of the caller will be kept secret.
