Guwahati: Assam health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Hindus have the right to celebrate festivals and the state government has no plan to restrict celebration including the use of firecrackers.Himanta tweeted, “Like any other religion, Hindus have the right to celebrate festivals. With improvement in #COVID19 situation in Assam, we plan no restrictions on celebration including use of #Firecrackers. However, kindly remember, self-restraint is key to combat #COVID19.”Pollution Control Board (PCB) Assam in a notification has stated, “There will be total ban against sale or use of all kinds of fire crackers in the Guwahati city from midnight of November, 9-10, 2020 to the midnight of November 30 – December 1, 2020 to be reviewed thereafter. Except Guwahati in other areas only green crackers can be sold and bursting is allowed only for two hours during Deepawali festivals from 8 pm to 10 pm; during Chatt Puja from 6 am to 8 am and during Christmas & New year eve from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am.”“Whereas, as directed by National Green Tribunal in Original Application No. 249/2020 dated 09.11.2020 [Para 48(v)] and also for the fact that the bursting of firecrackers releases copious amount of harmful chemicals, which have severe impact on the respiratory health of vulnerable groups and such pollutants can further aggravate health conditions of COVID-19 positives persons besides person staying in home isolation; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 31(A) of Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 read with Rule 35 of Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Assam Rule, 1991 and keeping in view the need of public interest to curb high air pollution in Guwahati which is bracketed as “poor” quality in Air Quality Index (AQI), Pollution Control Board.”Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Police District stated, Guwahati whereas it has been made to appear to me that use of Fireworks and bursting of crackers etc in the vicinity of Guwahati Refinery, Oil India Pumping Station and the Oil pipelines within Central Police District, Guwahati may cause inflammation/fire etc. as huge quantities of highly volatile and inflammable petroleum products are stored in Guwahati Refinery, Noonmati, Oil India Pumping Station and pumped through the Oil pipelines passing through Central Police District, Guwahati.”And whereas, I am satisfied that if such acts are allowed to occur, there is every likelihood of imminent danger to the safety and security of the above mentioned installations and residents, residing in the vicinity of the Guwahati Refinery and Oil India Pumping Station, Satgaon. And, therefore, I, Rajveer, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Police District, Guwahati in exercise of powers conferred upon me U/S 144 CrPC do hereby prohibit Use of fireworks and bursting of crackers etc. within 500 meters radius from the Guwahati Refinery. Noonmati, Oil India Pumping Station, Satgaon and Oil Pipelines within Central Police District, Guwahati,” the order stated.
