Sonipat District Bans Firecrackers to Control Air Pollution During Diwali

Sonipat (The Uttam Hindu): To control air pollution and protect public health, District Magistrate Sushil Sarwan of Haryana’s Sonipat has issued an order under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Protection Code, 2023. The order imposes a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, storage, online sale, and use of all types of firecrackers except certified green firecrackers during Diwali.

The District Magistrate extended Diwali greetings to the residents and said the decision was taken to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and comply with Supreme Court guidelines. He urged citizens to support the administration by celebrating a green and clean Diwali, as rising air pollution poses serious health risks to children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions.

According to the order, only green firecrackers certified by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and licensed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) can be used for a limited duration. The permissible timings for using green firecrackers are from 6 AM to 7 AM and 8 PM to 10 PM on the first day of Diwali and the main Diwali day. Sales of green firecrackers are allowed only from October 18 to October 20, 2025, at authorized locations.

The District Magistrate also prohibited the sale, ordering, or distribution of any firecrackers through online platforms such as Flipkart and Amazon. Importing firecrackers from outside the NCR region is also not allowed. Police, municipal authorities, pollution control boards, fire departments, and all sub-divisional officers have been instructed to ensure compliance. They are required to conduct raids on illegal sales or storage and submit daily reports to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Violators of this order will face strict action under the Indian Civil Protection Code, 2023, the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the Explosives Act, 1884.