Important news for Goans: Citizens allowed to burst crackers in certain time slots, check here

The Goa government on Monday announced a restricted schedule for the bursting of firecrackers on Diwali, citing Supreme Court directives.

Bursting of crackers will be allowed from 4.30 am to 5.30 am and from 7 pm to 8 pm strictly on November 14.

"For Diwali festival on November 15 and 16 in Goa, the timings to burst firecrackers shall be strictly restricted between 8 pm and 10 pm only," a Department of Environment statement said.

"Police station incharges shall be fully responsible for the implementation of the Supreme Court directions in this regard in their respective jurisdictions," the statement added.

While India gets ready to celebrate the colour of lights Deepawali, several states and UT governments have decided to impose a ban on firecrackers and its sale ahead due to the increasing air pollution and coronavirus crisis in the country.

The NGT had recently sought response of the Union Environment Ministry, the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee on whether the use of firecrackers should be banned from November 7-30.

States like Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Chandigarh, Haryana, Karnataka has imposed a ban on the selling and bursting of firecrackers