All southern states can burst firecrackers anytime in the day, for two hours, the Supreme Court said today, modifying its last week's order that restricted the use of "safe and green" firecrackers from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali to tackle air pollution.
The top court was hearing several applications filed by the Tamil Nadu government and firecracker manufacturers.
The Tamil Nadu government yesterday urged the Supreme Court to allow bursting of firecrackers on Diwali morning as per religious practices in the state, besides the already permitted period between 8 pm to 10 pm.
The petition said the state should be given permission between 4.30 am to 6.30 am as well.
Tamil Nadu will celebrate Diwali or Deepavali on November 6.
According to the petition, each state or sect has a separate set of beliefs and traditions as far as Deepavali celebrations are concerned and the top court's restriction would amount to "rejecting the people with their due religious rights and would subject the people of the state into much hardship"
Firecracker manufacturers told the Supreme Court that it was not possible to come up with "green crackers" this Diwali since there was no set composition for manufacturing them.
The court observed that the direction for permitting the use of "green crackers" was meant for Delhi and the National Capital Region and does not apply to the rest of the country.
(With inputs from PTI)
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