Timings for bursting crackers in TN and Pondicherry to change

The Supreme Court on Tuesday modified its order fixing a slot of 8pm to 10pm for bursting firecrackers on Diwali and said the timing will be changed in places like Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry but not exceed two hours a day.

A bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan also observed that the direction permitting the use of green crackers was meant for the Delhi-NCR region and not pan-India.

The apex court was hearing several applications filed by the Tamil Nadu government and firecracker manufacturers seeking modification and clarification of its October 23 order.

On Monday, the state government urged the apex court to allow firecrackers to be burst on Diwali morning in accordance with religious practices in the state, besides the already permitted 8pm to 10pm period.

The counsel appearing for firecracker manufacturers told the court that it was not possible to come up with green crackers this Diwali since there was no set composition for manufacturing them.