SHILLONG: Allaying fears about the use of crackers during Diwali, Chief Secretary Y Tsering said on Friday restricted use of crackers will be allowed.
There will not be any ban on the use of crackers and the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner will have a meeting in this regard.
According to the chief secretary, there should not be any sound pollution and the State Pollution Control Board will monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills District Magistrate said in view of the guidelines laid down by the Apex Court in the case of prevention of environment and sound pollution, bursting of firecrackers from 10 pm to 6 am is prohibited and punishable.
The statement also said that as per government notification, on October 25, 2005, the sale, purchase and bursting of fireworks and crackers, except other types of tarabati and tubri without sound, having noise level exceeding 125 dB(A1) or 145 dB(C) pk at 4 meters distance from the point of bursting are prohibited.
“Joined firecrackers, the limit of sound be reduced by 5 log 10(N) dB, from 125 dB(A1) or 145 dB(C) where N is number of crackers joined together,” the magistrate said. According to the order, bursting of crackers in public places and silence zones should be avoided such as educational institutions, hospitals, courts, and religious places, among others.
