SHILLONG: In pursuance to the Supreme Court order, the Member Secretary of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has issued directives that manufacture, sale or use of firecrackers generating noise level exceeding 125 dB (AI) or 145 (C) pk at 4 meters distance from the point of bursting is prohibited and for individual firecracker constituting the series (joined firecrackers), the limit mentioned be reduced by 5 log 10(N) dB, where N is equal to the number of crackers joined together, according to a Government Press release.
All dealers, retails, sellers of firecrackers should ensure that the firecrackers circulated in the market comply with the guidelines fixed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) as per the chemical formulae mentioned in the organisation’s website http://peso.gov.in regarding firecrackers imported/manufactured in the country and the details of chemical content shall be mentioned on the box of each firecracker.
Further, public are directed to purchase only the firecrackers that inform the chemical content of the cracker on the cover box and crackers producing noise should not be burst between 10 PM and 6 AM. Meanwhile, it is also advised to wear earplugs when going to fireworks exhibits because it can reduce noise by 15 to 30 decibels.
To keep the environment clean, green and healthy, the MSPCB requested the public to organise neighbourhood clean-up programmes in their respective areas.