In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that only 2 hours of fireworks should be set off on Deepavali due to air pollution. This order is being observed during every Deepavali festival.
Accordingly, this year the Tamil Nadu government has given permission to explode firecrackers for 2 hours at the Deepavali festival from 6 am to 7 pm for one hour and from 7 pm to 8 pm for one hour.
Chennai Police Commissioner Maheshkumar Agarwal has already warned that legal action will be taken against those who violate the time limit. Police have warned that those who violate the 2-hour limit set by the government could face up to six months in jail or a fine of up to Rs 1,000.
It seems that police patrols will be intensified on Deepavali to monitor violators of this rule.
It is noteworthy that 2,168 people were prosecuted in Chennai for violating the time limit in 2018 and 497 in 2019.
