BMC Bans bursting of Firecrackers except on Diwali evening

On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) banned bursting of firecrackers in public & private places in Mumbai except on Saturday (Nov 14), when Diwali will be celebrated, because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Only 2 variants of firecrackers, sparklers & flower pot, have been allowed to be burst in private on the evening of Nov 14. However, the sale of firecrackers has not been banned in Maharashtra.

The BMC has appealed to the public not use sanitisers while bursting firecrackers & use water & soap instead as sanitisers are inflammable.

Iqbal Singh Chahal, commissioner, BMC said that “Let us celebrate a firecracker-free Diwali this year to save Mumbaikars from a possible second wave of Covid-19. We all can jointly make this possible".

The BMC circular has empowered assistant municipal commissioners & local Police authorities to take action against those violating its order. The civic body has urged the officials concerned to book the violators under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 & the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Earlier, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray had appealed to the public to celebrate a firecracker-free Diwali, as the resultant smoke could create health hazards for Coronavirus patients & those suffering from respiratory ailments.

A state Cabinet meeting last week had discussed the issue on a blanket ban on the sale of firecrackers, but no decision was taken in the end.

The BMC has appealed to Mumbaikars to avoid social gatherings during Diwali & have online celebrations instead. The civic body authorities have urged the public to comply with social distancing norms while celebrating Diwali.

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