Nagaland bans firecrackers till January 2021

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 10 (EMN): Nagaland government has announced a state-wide total ban on sale and bursting of firecrackers from November 10 till January 2021.

According to a notification issued by the Home department on Tuesday, the ban has been imposed under section 22 (2) (h) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

It observed that festive season is approaching, a time when ‘people usually burn firecrackers’.

“There is an increase in the number of Covid-19 positive cases in the state and winter season is fast approaching during which the elderly, children, persons with co-morbidities and others develop respiratory problems,” it stated.

Bursting of firecrackers releases harmful chemicals which have severe impact on the respiratory health of vulnerable groups and such pollutants further may prove hazardous for recovered as well as active Covid-19 patients, according to the order.

It warned that any person found violating the order shall be punished under relevant provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other relevant laws.

Further, it empowered the deputy commissioners, commissioner of police, Dimapur and superintendents of police to take all measures and necessary action to ensure compliance of the prohibitive order.