Only certified green crackers could be sold at designated locations across Delhi-NCR from November 4 to 6. Their use was restricted to two hours each in the morning, between 6am and 7am, and in the evening, between 8pm and 10pm, on November 7 and 8. A blanket ban would return from November 9.
The Supreme Court’s directions on firecrackers left little room for ambiguity.
smaller vendors quickly covered their firecracker stocks with plastic sheets whenever police personnel patrolling the congested lanes blew their whistles While shops displayed a wide range of decorative items. At Jama Masjid’s gate No. The shops remained open until around 2pm, but police later ordered them shut. They reopened by 7pm. But enforcement against unlicensed sellers appeared far less effective. A street vendor who sold fireworks to several customers in front of an HT correspondent admitted he did not have a valid licence and hid his stock when police approached. However, officers acknowledged that catching people in the act remained difficult. “We are taking action against such people and registering FIRs.
When HT visited markets in Old Delhi, traditionally home to vendors and shops selling firecrackers ahead of Diwali, it found nearly 30 street vendors selling fireworks without licences. 3, nearly 60 people waited outside firecracker shops, hoping to buy fireworks.
“Selling fireworks without a license is not allowed, but I only sell for six to seven days to make extra money,” he said. Police said they had stepped up enforcement, registering cases and seizing illegal stocks. Deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma said no complaint about firecracker bursting had been received in the district until 9pm. “Special patrolling teams have been formed to enforce the rules regarding the sale and bursting of certified green crackers and take legal action against violators,” he said. DCP (South) Anant Mittal said some residents continued to defy the court’s directions. The enforcement is mostly based on action taken by police personnel present on the ground after they spot anyone bursting crackers or rush to the scene after hearing the sound,” he said.
“All our stock is procured from credible manufacturers and is fully certified.
Even established, family-run shops that had stocked certified crackers said they were asked to close. We have closed for now, but we will reopen after 7pm,” a shop owner told HT.
