New Delhi, Nov 5 (KNN) Delhi Police has asked the public to follow the guidelines issued by Supreme Court with regard to selling and use of firecrackers during Diwali and upcoming festivals in Delhi, concerning the air quality index of the city and its health hazards.

As per the Supreme Court notification, only the selling of reduced emission firecrackers (improved crackers) and green crackers and Safe Water and Air Sprinklers (SWAS) as prescribed and approved by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) will be allowed in the premises, as per the apex court's judgment.

The notice clearly states joined firecrackers (series crackers or laris) and those containing barium salts, arsenic, antimony, lead and mercury are banned.

Also, the firecrackers manufactured earlier but non-permissible as per Supreme Court judgment are banned.

Moreover, the manufacture, sale or use of firecrackers generating noise levels beyond the permissible limits (125 dB(A) or 145 dB(C) at a four-metre distance from the point of bursting) are prohibited.

Bursting of fireworks is not allowed in silence zones, said the notification.

It reads “A silence zone is an area comprising not less than 100 meters around hospitals, educational institutions, courts, religious places or any other area which is declared as such by the competent authority.”

Clarifying the crackers bursting timings as per the directions of the top court, the notification reads “Between 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali days, from 4 am to 5 am and between 9 pm to 10 pm on Gurpurab, and from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am on Christmas Eve and New Year Eve.”

Community fire cracking to be undertaken at pre-identified areas/fields as far as possible, it added.

The top court on October 23, passed the verdict concerning rising level of pollution. In its order the court approved the sale and manufacturing of firecrackers with the certain conditions.

The court allowed the the sale of firecrackers but only through licensed traders ensuring that these licensed traders are selling those firecrackers which are permitted by this order.

It imposed a ban on the making and burning of joined firecrackers, saying they cause air, noise and solid waste problems.