District Collector Nagendra Prasad K. announced on Friday that the production, storage, and sale of all prohibited fireworks, excluding green crackers, are strictly banned across Ballari district to ensure an eco-friendly Diwali. The measure aims to control air pollution and ensure public safety, with joint inspection teams formed in every taluk to enforce strict legal action against violators.
In Ballari taluk, a team chaired by the Assistant Commissioner includes the Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Fire Officer, officials from the Public Works Department, the Municipal Corporation, JESCO, the Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer, and environmental officers. Similar teams have been deployed in Siruguppa, Sandur, Kampli, and Kurugodu taluks, chaired by their respective Tahsildars and comprising police inspectors, municipal chief officers, fire station officers, taluk panchayat executive officers, JESCO representatives, and Pollution Control Board officials.
The district administration has instructed monitoring committees to jointly inspect and report on unauthorized shops and warehouses storing or selling fireworks. Mandatory site inspections are required before issuing new licenses or renewing existing ones, with strict verification that fire and electrical safety rules are followed in all shops. Temporary stalls are permitted to sell only green crackers, and committees must verify that packages display the official green cracker symbol and a QR code.
The District Collector has warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone selling prohibited fireworks or operating without a district administration license, requiring non-compliance reports to be submitted. He has ordered all deployed team officials to coordinate immediately, conduct field visits, inspect shop safety measures, and submit their reports.
