Gurgaon: Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has stepped up inspections of firecracker storage facilities ahead of Dussehra and Diwali, with a godown in Chandu checked on Monday and samples sent for testing to verify compliance with prescribed norms.The inspection was conducted in the presence of police, and the samples were sent to Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).An HSPCB official said the exercise would be extended to other locations. “Action will be taken against anyone found selling or storing firecrackers that do not conform to prescribed norms,” the official said.The checks come amid Supreme Court’s scrutiny of firecracker use in Delhi-NCR during the festive season, with air pollution and public health concerns shaping restrictions.On Sept 30, Supreme Court considered a limited relaxation for specified next-generation joined green crackers, a modified version of conventional firecracker chains, or laris. The products must meet prescribed noise, emission and safety standards and undergo testing and certification. The relaxation does not extend automatically to all joined crackers or every product marketed as a green cracker.The court also sought further testing of green crackers containing barium. On Oct 12, it stressed that restrictions must be practical and enforceable and asked Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider the broader question of firecracker use across NCR.
