New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) Neighbourhoods in the national capital are being lit up and markets are buzzing with activity as Diwali nears. This year the authorities have tightened norms under which they licence fireworks sales to make it a safer festival, while they conduct anti-pollution campaigns to make it less of a health hazard.
The Delhi government’s anti-cracker campaign has been actively advocating reduced use of fireworks for a less polluted Diwali Saturday.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said: “The cracker campaign has been a success. So much so that school kids now tell me that they will burst only a few crackers and this has actually brought down the pollution level.”

In continuation of its efforts, the government has put out advertisements in newspapers, urging Delhiites to help make the festival as little polluting as possible.

“One night’s celebration or a life long celebration! Celebrate a pollution free Diwali,” the advertisement says.

Further Delhi Police is issuing fireworks sale licences to only those shopkeepers who meet safety requirements and guidelines.

The shop has to be in the ground floor, between nine and 25 square metres, have fire safety equipment and the electrical wiring must be sealed. The shop should not jut out on the pavement, children should not be involved in the sale and the stock should be within the authorised quantity.

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said that until now they have given licences to nearly 1,000 shopkeepers for the sale of fireworks.

“We have received over 4,000 applications for licences. Day before yesterday we gave around 700 licences and yesterday we gave more than 200. We don’t have any restriction on the number of licences as long as the shops meet the safety requirements,” Bhagat told IANS.

Like last year, this year too Bhagat expects the number of licensed shops for fireworks to be around 1,200.

“Besides firecrackers, we also have a stringent security system in place for Diwali. There are the Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) and crowded markets like Sarojini Nagar, Greater Kailash and Paharganj are monitored by CCTV cameras,” he said.