The Pune City police have banned the use of sound-emitting firecrackers between 10 pm and 6 am, besides prohibiting the sale, possession and bursting of string-wrapped crackers known as ‘atom bomb’ during Diwali. The directives came in an order issued on Tuesday by City Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, who laid down norms for the sale and bursting of firecrackers in line with the guidelines issued during the festive season every year. The police have also prohibited the bursting of crackers on public roads. Between 10 pm and 6 am, only crackers that produce light effects will be allowed. The executive order states that temporary licenses are being issued for the sale of firecrackers, and vendors will be allowed to sell them only from October 20 to 24. After this, the remaining stock will have to be returned to traders with permanent storage and sale permits. In accordance with the provisions of the Maharashtra Arms Rules, the police have banned the manufacture, possession, and use of a certain type of firecracker commonly known as ‘atom bomb’—which consists of an explosive powder tightly wrapped with a string, the order stated. Besides, the bursting of firecrackers is completely banned within a 100-metre radius of the silent zones earmarked around hospitals, courts and educational institutes. The authorities have also banned the use of crackers on public roads and for up to 10 metres on its sides. The order also prohibits the manufacture, sale, possession, and use of firecrackers that produce a noise exceeding 125 decibels at a distance of four metres from the point of bursting. For garland-type firecrackers (commonly called ladis), the permissible noise limit is 110 decibels for garlands containing 50 to 100 individual crackers, and 105 decibels for those with more than 100 crackers. Citing an order from the Nagpur-headquartered Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the Pune police have also banned the sale and use of foreign-made firecrackers.
