Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board issues guidelines for bursting crackers

Keeping in line with the guidelines of the Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB ) on Wednesday issued guidelines and time period for people to burst crackers on Diwali. The TNPCB fixed two slots between 6 am to 7 am and between 7 pm to 8 pm.

The agency would also monitor the air pollution in all the municipal corporations in days till the festival and thereafter. Strict action would be initiated against people who will burst crackers exceeding the specified time limit.

In a statement released by the TNPCB, the agency stated that welfare associations should obtain prior permission from local bodies to gather and burst crackers in public places.

"Low decibel crackers should be used and



bursting of crackers should be avoided near hospitals and places of worship. Crackers must also be avoided in inflammable areas and localities with huts," it said.

The festival of lights will be celebrated on Sunday, October 27. The state government has declared a local holiday across the state on October 28, a day after Diwali so that people could travel to their natives for the festival.

To cater to the festival rush, the state transport will operate over 10,000 buses from Chennai to various parts of the state to facilitate commuters to reach their hometowns on time for the festival.

The buses will be operated on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from different bus-stands within and on the outskirts of the city.