Rajasthan to fine sellers Rs 10,000, public Rs 2,000 for defying ban on crackers

JAIPUR: Two days after chief minister Ashok Gehlot announced a ban on firecrackers, the state government on Tuesday notified the same, which included imposing fines of Rs 10,000 on shopkeepers found selling them and Rs 2,000 on individuals bursting crackers or allowing their use.
“Any person who is found using or allowing bursting of firecrackers would be liable to pay a fine of Rs 2,000 while any shopkeeper who is found selling any kind of fireworks would be liable to pay a fine of Rs 10,000,” the order said.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan High Court will hear an appeal related to the ban ahead of Diwali on Wednesday. On Monday, the Association of Firecracker Dealers had moved court challenging the government ban.
‘Govt should control pollution from factories’
The petitioners claimed that the ban would affect their livelihood as thousands of people depended on the business. Zaheer Ahmed, secretary of the association, said that such a ban has not been imposed in any part of the country except Rajasthan. “No agency or organisation has done research and claimed that bursting of firecrackers would spread Covid. The smoke from firecrackers during Diwali causes only 4% of pollution for two to three hours. Whereas factories, vehicles and smoking contributes to 96% of the pollution. The state government should control pollution from factories,” he claimed.