The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has issued strict Diwali guidelines, permitting firecracker bursting only between 7 PM and 9 PM across the state.

To reduce air and noise pollution, the Board banned firecrackers that exceed 125 decibels. It also promoted the use of certified green crackers, reinforcing its commitment to safe and sustainable celebrations.

Officials prohibited firecracker use in parks, silence zones, and within 100 meters of hospitals, schools, religious places, and courts. They allowed bursting only in open spaces, while residential areas, roads, and crowded public zones remain off-limits.

OSPCB barred children under 10 from handling high-decibel fireworks. It advised people to wear cotton clothes to prevent burns and keep water and sand nearby for emerge

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