Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board has decided to allow bursting of crackers only for two hours from 8pm during Diwali a day after the Hemant Soren government eased lockdown curbs for the festival.

Saturday's JSPCB order also allowed bursting of crackers during Chhath from 6am-8am. For Christmas and New Year's eve in December, crackers will be allowed between 11.55pm to 12.30am, said JSPCB’s member secretary Y.K.Das.

He said that anyone found violating the rules would be booked under Section 188 of IPC and relevant sections of the Air Pollution Act, 1987. “The orders have been sent to all districts asking for compliance,” he said.

Another official added that as per the ruling and guidelines of the Supreme Court, the National Green Tribunal and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), noise levels of t crackers should not exceed 125 decible (DB). “Sale and use of crackers beyond 125db is prohibited in the state,” he said.

A salesman at Trade Friends, one of the larger wholesalers of crackers in Ranchi, said that all stocks compied with government prescribed standards. “All the crackers today come with details about noise limits and with an announcement if they are permitted or not. Therefore, even people buying them can easily find those details on the box,” he said.

This year, Ranchi district administration has permitted retail sale of crackers only at four locations—Morabadi, Kutchery, Harmu ground and Bariatu.