E-commerce websites in Punjab prohibited from accepting online orders or selling firecrackers within the State: only green crackers permitted to be burst on specified days and time

With a view to mitigate the potentially harmful consequences of bursting firecrackers, which may adversely affect the respiratory health of vulnerable groups, besides aggravating health condition of COVID-19 positive persons, the Government of Punjab has prohibited, restricted and regulated the sale and use of firecrackers in the State and issued the following directions thereof for the upcoming festive season:

1. 1. Manufacturing, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of joined firecrackers (series crackers or laries) is banned within the State;
   2. E-commerce websites including Amazon, Flipkart etc. shall not accept any online orders and/ or effect online sales of firecrackers within the State;
   3. Only green crackers (crackers which do not use barium salts or compounds of antimony, lithium, mercury arsenic, lead or strontium, chromate) would be allowed for sale and use in the State;
   4. The sale of such crackers may only be made through licensed traders, and the licensed traders may only sell the firecrackers which are permitted. No licensee may store, display, or sell joined firecrackers (series of crackers or lanes) and/ or firecrackers that use barium salts or compounds of antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic, lead or strontium chromate in the manufacture of fireworks;
   5. Only green crackers may be burst and for a very short duration on the following days and time:

6. Violation of the directions will invite immediate penal action under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC and other provisions as applicable.

A copy of the Order is linked below for ease of reference.

Source: Government of Punjab