Lucknow, October 30 The Uttar Pradesh Pollution control board Wednesday declared it would strictly enforce the Supreme Court ban on exploding fire crackers on Dipawali after 10 p.m. and would penalize offenders with a fine and imprisonment.

Police are roped in and strict instructions are issued to confirm that no fire crackers are burst between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Also, using the crackers within one hundred metres of colleges, spiritual places, hospitals, court premises and different areas has been prohibited by the district administration, Yadav said.

It was flooded with complaints of breach of its rules and many people suffered from partial hearing impairment, heart problems, rise in blood pressure and respiratory issues.

“We can act against all errant persons under the provisions of the environment Conservation Act of 1986 and 1999 and book all those breaching either the 125 decibel limit of cracker noise or the 10 p.m. deadline,” an official said.

He also said that imprisonment of 5 years and a penalty of Rs.1 lakh could be slapped on people who don’t abide by the principles. District authorities too seem to be on vigil and say that the guilty won’t be spared.