Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, October 6: District Magistrate Smt. Komal Mittal has issued orders prohibiting the use of fireworks on the occasion of Diwali, Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birth anniversary, Christmas and the beginning of the New Year in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. These orders have been issued in the public interest under Section 163 of the Indian National Safety Act (BNNS).
The District Magistrate said that these instructions are in accordance with the detailed instructions issued by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Punjab, on September 18, 2025.
He said that during the festivals, traders try to buy, sell and store firecrackers, so it is mandatory to ensure compliance with all the rules prescribed by the government. The prohibition and permission instructions include a ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and use of serial firecrackers (series or lorries). Only green firecrackers — which do not use chemicals like barium salt, antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic, lead or strontium chromate — have been allowed for sale and use. Apart from this, only licensed vendors will be able to sell approved firecrackers. According to these orders regarding the timings for bursting crackers in the district, firecrackers will be allowed to be burst on Diwali (October 20): 8 pm to 10 pm, on Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birth anniversary (November 5): 4 am to 5 am and 9 pm to 10 pm, on Christmas (December 25 and 26): 11:55 pm to 12:30 pm, on New Year (December 31 - January 1): 11:55 pm to 12:30 am only.
In other instructions of the District Magistrate, community fire cracking will be encouraged and special areas will be identified in advance for this. Online sale of crackers through e-commerce websites (like Flipkart, Amazon etc.) will be prohibited. Strict compliance of the instructions will be ensured by the police and the pollution department.
Green crackers will be allowed to be burst only at the approved times and places.
Under the monitoring and action, air quality will be monitored in selected cities under the guidelines of Punjab Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board. Fair and just action will be taken under the Explosives Rules, 2008 of the Department of Industries and Commerce. Special precautions will be taken keeping in mind the ambient air quality. The orders of the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal will be fully complied with.
He said that immediate penal action will be taken against those violating these instructions under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Apart from this, legal action can also be taken under the relevant sections of the BNNS.
This order will be in force from October 1, 2025 to January 2, 2026.