Ahead of Diwali, 640 kg of firecrackers seized in north Delhi, case registered

The SC had last week banned the sale of non-environment friendly firecrackers in Delhi.

NEW DELHI: In compliance of the Supreme Court order allowing the sale of only green (less polluting) firecrackers in Delhi, the authorities on Sunday seized over 640 kilograms of firecrackers from different areas in the national capital.

According to the Delhi Police, 625 kilograms of firecrackers were seized from Sadar Bazar,11.1 kg firecrackers and 7.9 kg firecrackers were seized by teams from Subzi Mandi and Burari police stations respectively.

The police action came after head constable Sandeep Chawla, who was on patrolling duty, received specific information about firecrackers and explosive items being stored at a shop opposite Qutub Road Parking in Sadar Bazar.

Based on this information, a raid was conducted, Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Nupur Prasad said.

During checking, the shop was found stocked with firecrackers and explosive items weighing nearly 625 kilograms, she added.

Ravinder (35), a resident of Laxmi Nagar, was found to be storing the firecrackers.

Delhi: 625 kgs of firecrackers were seized by Police from a shop in Sadar Bazar, from the possession of one Ravinder. A case has been registered. pic.twitter.com/FcxhcPZARF — ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2018

A case has been registered and an investigation is going on to trace the source of the recovered firecrackers/explosive items, the DCP added.

Apart from this, 11.1 kg firecrackers and 7.9 kg firecrackers were seized in Subzi Mandi and Burari localities, she said. 

Meanwhile, Delhi Police personnel on Sunday pasted posters of guidelines given by the Supreme Court on selling and bursting firecrackers during Diwali and upcoming festivals in the city. 

The posters have been issued by Delhi Police.

Police personnel in Delhi's Paharganj area paste posters of guidelines given by the Supreme Court to sell and use firecrackers during #Diwali and upcoming festivals in the city. The posters have been issued by Delhi Police. pic.twitter.com/zHlX88OpuK — ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2018

It is to be noted that the Supreme Court had on October 23 refused to put a blanket ban on the sale of firecrackers, saying only green firecrackers (less polluting and eco-friendly) will be sold in the markets.

Only green firecrackers with permissible decibel sound limits will be allowed to be sold in the market, the top court said in its order.

Judge Arjan Kumar Sikri said only licensed traders would be allowed to sell ''safe'' firecrackers as he banned the online sale of the same.

The top court passed the order while responding to a number of petitions seeking a direction to ban the sale of firecrackers.

The Supreme Court, in its order, also banned the online sale of firecrackers and put a stay on the e-commerce portals like Flipkart, Amazon and others from selling firecrackers which are beyond the permissible limit.

''E-commerce websites will be hauled up for the contempt of court if they don't adhere to the court's direction, the top court warned.

The top court also fixed the duration for bursting crackers. On Diwali and other religious festivals, it allowed bursting of firecrackers between 8 PM and 10 PM.

Meanwhile, on Christmas and New Year, the bursting of crackers will be allowed only between 11.45 PM and 12.45 AM.

However, the top court later modified its order and allowed the states to fix timings for bursting firecrackers in morning and evening with a rider that the total timing must not exceed beyond two hours in a day.