Mixed response to restrictions

The Supreme Court has restricted the timings for bursting crackers during Deepavali, evoking a mixed response from citizens in the city.

According to an advisory from the state government, the public was asked to burst crackers only from 8 pm to 10 pm.

A senior police officer said a circular had been issued to all the apartments and residents' welfare associations about the timings as stipulated by the government. "We received a rather positive response from the public. The control room received fewer calls than expected," the officer said.

Complaints on crackers being burst before and after the deadline were forwarded to the Hoysala team, which visited the spot and warned the people from doing so.

Some residents were aware of the order, but were not keen on following it, while others feigned ignorance, he said. There were also incidents of some people refusing to listen to the Hoysala police. They were taken to the station, but let off later.

Children say no

This year, there were several awareness campaigns on how bursting of crackers leads to an increase in air and noise pollution. Taking cue, several schoolchildren pledged not to burst crackers during Deepavali.

Gangamma, a BBMP sweeper, said in comparison to the previous year, there was less cracker debris on the roads in Judicial Layout, Yelahanka.

According to Shivakumar, a resident of Bagalagunte near 8th Mile, except for a few isolated incidents in interior areas, the first day of the festival was peaceful. "I bought a box of crackers like I do every year, but my son was not interested in bursting it this time," he said.