In view of deteriorating air quality in the city which is likely to worsen post Diwali, the district administration of Gautam Buddh Nagar has decided to cut down the number of temporary licenses for selling firecrackers by 50 percent as compared to the same granted in 2016.
The Uttar Pradesh government has issued guidelines to the district magistrate in the matter saying that areas will be clearly earmarked as zones where bursting of firecrackers is allowed in the city and as silent zones where such activities will be prohibited.
These silent zones will be designated near hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district healthcare centres, educational institutes, courts, religious places or any other area declared by the local administration.
“The guidelines issued are following the directions given by the Supreme Court that only reduced-emission firecrackers or green crackers are permitted to be manufactured and sold. We have reduced the grant of temporary licenses by about 50 percent this year and will also ensure that these licensed traders are selling only the permitted firecrackers,” said B N Singh, district magistrate, Gautam Buddh Nagar.
Meanwhile, the administration also plans to hold several programmes wherein school children will be sensitized and educated on the health hazard and ill effects of breathing polluted air due to firecrackers.
