Karnataka plans statewide crackdown on conventional firecrackers

Bengaluru, Oct 31 (UNI) Karnataka is preparing a statewide enforcement drive against conventional firecrackers ahead of Diwali, targeting their manufacture, transportation, storage and sale, with district-level task forces tasked with preventing prohibited fireworks from entering the market. Moving beyond restrictions on when fireworks can be burst, the state government has decided to tighten surveillance across the entire firecracker supply chain, making the availability and distribution of permitted green crackers a key focus of this year's pollution-control measures. Under the guidelines announced following a meeting between Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy and departmental officials, only green firecrackers carrying mandatory…