New Delhi

Three hundred and seventy-seven law enforcement teams, including 300 teams of the Delhi Police, have been mobilized to enforce a blanket ban on bursting firecrackers in the Capital in the run-up to the Diwali festival, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday .

In a meeting held at the secretariat, the officials were informed that more than 19,000 kilograms of firecrackers were seized in the city and 79 cases were filed regarding the sale and storage of firecrackers, officials privy to the development said.

“For this reason, a complete ban has been imposed on the manufacture, storage, sale (including delivery through online platforms) and burning of firecrackers (in the city). To enforce this ban, 377 teams have been formed, which include 300 teams from the Delhi Police and 77 from the revenue department of the Delhi government. These teams are continuously monitoring all of Delhi,” Rai said in a statement after the meeting.

Rai said the city police have been instructed to hold meetings with residents’ welfare associations (RWAs), market welfare associations (MWAs) and religious committees to create public awareness about the ban on firecrackers. The government has launched the ‘Diya Jalao, Patakha Nahi’ program to create awareness about the ban on firecrackers, he said.

Rai said pollution caused by firecrackers during Diwali makes Delhi’s air extremely hazardous, posing a serious threat to children and the elderly.

Senior police officers said that officers of all ranks at police stations in the city have been directed to ensure strict enforcement of the ban on firecrackers and take legal action against people caught bursting firecrackers.

Security arrangements

Intelligence inputs, along with a recent blast outside the CRPF school in Rohini, have prompted the Delhi Police to step up their presence and patrolling in public places, especially high-traffic areas such as markets and shopping malls.

The police said they regularly conduct mock drills at random to assess the preparedness of security personnel and other agencies for any possible security threat.

“Members of bomb detection and disposal teams (BDS) and dog teams have been directed to carry out regular anti-sabotage checks and searches in high-traffic areas and search for suspicious objects. In markets such as Sarojini Nagar, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar and Sadar Bazar, the police set up machans (elevated platforms) where personnel armed with long-range weapons were deployed to keep an eye on visitors. Morchas, in the form of sandbags, have also been set up at strategic locations in public places,” said an officer, who did not wish to be named.

Police met with RWA, MWA, Aman Committees and members of the Eyes and Ears program to strengthen community policing, promote communal peace and harmony and address local concerns, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Sachin Sharma said.

“Police personnel are patrolling congested areas, markets and residential areas on foot to ensure prompt response to (adverse) incidents and maintain public safety during the festive season. Checking of parking lots, vehicles, hotels, guest houses, paid guest accommodation is also being done,” the DCP said.