The Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, Kevithuto Sophie, reminded citizens on the ban of bursting crackers and urged all to be responsible and adopt safe and eco-friendly ways of celebrating this festive season. In the advisory, Sophie reiterated that firecrackers are not just hazardous for the environment but also cause significant stress, fear, and other health-related issues in both animals and humans.

However, citizens may burst crackers on Christmas’ Eve and New Year’s Eve between 11:55 pm to 12:30 am in Dimapur, the Commissioner said. Fireworks are strictly prohibited in silence zones or within 100 meters of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health-care centres, educational institutions, courts, religious places, or any other area declared as a silence zone by the authorities concerned, he added.

The Commissioner also directed that during the window between 11:55 pm to 12:30 am, only Reduced Emission firecrackers (Improved crackers) and Reduced Emission firecrackers (Green crackers), as prescribed and approved by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization, would be allowed to use. Moreover, the sale of firecrackers should be through licensed traders and the traders should sell the firecrackers which are permissible. Further, manufacture, sale, and use of joined firecrackers or fireworks containing barium, salt, lithium, arsenic, mercury, etc., as well as those generating noise levels exceeding 125 decibels or 145 decibels will be strictly prohibited.

The Dimapur Police Commissioner had warned that violators of the order will be penalized as per the provisions of the law.