Calcutta High Court orders blanket ban on use and sale of firecrackers ahead of Diwali, Christmas

No firecrackers including green ones can be used during the upcoming festivities including Kali Puja, Diwali, Chhat Puja and Christmas in West Bengal. 

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court while hearing a petition, ordered a complete ban on usage and sale of all kinds of firecrackers including green crackers during the upcoming festivities - Kali Puja, Diwali, Chhat Puja and Christmas.

The court while passing an order imposing the ban notified only wax or oil-based diyas will be permitted to be used.

Earlier, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board had allowed people to use green firecrackers for two hours - 8-10 pm on Diwali, two hours on Chhat Puja between 6-8 am and 35 mins on New Year's Eve.