Gurgaon: district and block-level teams to enforce firecracker ban
In line with Supreme Court orders, the Gurgaon deputy commissioner on Wednesday announced the formation of district- and block-level teams to monitor and act against violations of the firecracker ban in Haryana.
Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar said the enforcement teams would act swiftly on violations and urged residents to report any breaches. Complaints will be acknowledged within 24 hours, with block-level teams acting within 48 hours, it was stated.
The district committee will monitor cases and meet monthly.
Noting that the 'air pollution level remained alarming for a considerably long time,' the Supreme Court in April refused to relax the ban imposed on the manufacture, storage and sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
It has extended the ban till December 2025 and refused to be swayed by the argument of firecracker manufacturers and sellers that it will affect their livelihood. It said the ban was limited to a small part of the country, and that there can be no question of giving green crackers any relaxation unless it is shown that the pollution caused by them is the bare minimum.
The district-level committee of Gurgaon will be chaired by the deputy commissioner and includes the Haryana State Pollution Control Board's regional officer as convener, with members from nine departments, including police, fire, education, and public relations. It will oversee the ban, seizure and disposal of the crackers as well as awareness campaigns.
Block-level teams will be led by subdivisional magistrates and include deputy superintendents of police, block development and panchayat officers, tehsildars, fire station officers, and block education officers. They will enforce the ban, conduct outreach, and handle complaints locally.
Illegal firecrackers will be seized and disposed of under the Explosives Rules 2008, with reports submitted to the deputy commissioner and the pollution control board within 48 hours.
Awareness campaigns have been instructed to use posters, pamphlets, newspapers, radio, social media, and public display boards. Schools, resident welfare associations, and market associations will be involved. The district information and public relations officer will coordinate these efforts.
Residents can report violations via email (hspcbrogrn@gmail.com), X (https://x.com/HspcbN/communities/explore), or WhatsApp (9084220708, 9466777145).
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