The police have imposed prohibition on bursting crackers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. during Deepavali and warned that action would be taken against those who burst crackers in silent zones, including near hospitals.
Additional Commissioner of Police Sunil Kumar said that the ban has been imposed following directives from the High Court of Karnataka and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.
Patrolling will be intensified in the areas to monitor law and order and people who are found violating the rules will be severely dealt with, he said.
This year, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has suggested 51 open spaces to the police where people can sell fireworks. In addition, Defence services have sought permission to sell fireworks at 51 places.
The number of places where fireworks are sold have increased over the past two years. Fireworks were sold in 40 places in 2010 and 50 in 2011, he said. Shopkeepers who have obtained permission to sell crackers have been instructed to down the shutters at 9 p.m.
They have been asked to take precautionary measures, including storing water and mud in gunny bags apart from the mandatory fire extinguishers.
Mr. Sunil Kumar said that people should refrain from using high decibel crackers and should be present with children during bursting crackers, he said.
