The Puducherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC), under the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, has set the upper decibel (dB) limit for firecrackers during Deepavali.
In a press note, the PPCC Member Secretary said following directions from the Supreme Court, firecrackers with sound levels not exceeding 125 dB (AI-weighted impulse sound pressure level in decibels), at a four metre distance from the point of bursting, is prohibited. The use of joined firecrackers (series crackers or laris ) is banned.
The PPCC also informed that the bursting of firecrackers will be permitted for a two-hour duration — from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Firecrackers should not be burst in silence zones — areas located within 100 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district healthcare centres, educational institutions, courts, religious places or other areas that may be declared a silence zone by the concerned authorities. PPCC called for strict compliance with the stipulations.
