Thiruvananthapuram: The Pollution Control Board (PCB) and the local police are gearing up to enforce the Supreme Court directive restricting bursting of firecrackers only for two hours on Diwali day.
The police on Sunday issued strict time restrictions. On Diwali day, the bursting of crackers will only be allowed from 8 pm to 10 pm.
On other occasions including Christmas and New Year, the time for crackers is from 11.55 pm to 12:30 am.
The PCB has launched a mass media campaign to bring awareness among the public on the court order and the harmful effect of high-decibel firecrackers.
PCB chairman K. Sajeevan said they had sent out a strong message against noise and environment pollution during Diwali through those ads.
"We are airing awareness messages on FM radio, railway stations and theatres. All we can do is give wide publicity in this regard," he told DC.
He said that the PCB would monitor the ambient air quality for seven days post-Diwali.
"All 33 stations under the PCB across the state will be monitoring the air quality in the coming days," he said.
"The report on the previous year's ambient air quality was in the normal range."
The local police will be the enforcing authority. DGP Loknath Behera issued an order giving strict directions to district police chiefs on the SC directive.
In a release issued here on Sunday, Mr Behera said that everyone should strictly follow the time restrictions, else the police would take action for contempt of court.
Deputy commissioner of police Aadhithya R. said that the situation was under control in the state capital.
"Compared to other places, the state capital doesn't have a cracker culture as such. But there are some pockets like Fort area where bursting crackers is a thing. We have given awareness in such areas," he said.
