SC ban goes up in smoke as crackers burst past deadlines until sunrise in Noida, Ghaziabad

Noida: Notices were put up in the societies, advisories went out on the society WhatsApp groups and security guards were asked to intervene. But none of it could keep the crackers away. They were set off well beyond the Supreme Court-permitted slots on Nov 7 and 8 in Noida and Ghaziabad, with bursting reported past midnight and until sunrise in some areas despite repeated advisories. The court allowed crackers only from 6am to 7am and from 8pm to 10pm.The violations pointed to a wider lack of discipline and accountability. Roadside cracker sales continued openly up to society gates in several Noida sectors. In Sector 150, firecrackers were burst well past 1 am. In a Greater Noida society, youths filming reels set off crackers past 2 am. In Sector 36, a palm tree in the D block park was burnt after children burst crackers under it.Ghaziabad localities, including Indirapuram, Vaishali, Vasundhara and Shalimar Garden, also saw widespread violations. The residents’ associations said they had no authority beyond issuing advisories and arranging security interventions. They also said even police failed to enforce the deadlines.Sector 19 RWA president RC Gupta said, “Supreme Court had acknowledged that stringent restrictions without scientific backing often lead to widespread violations and that is exactly what happened over the past two days. Police and the administration should have focused on public awareness and discouraged people from bursting crackers.”Surojit Dasgupta, general secretary of the Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Association, said, “Despite our efforts through advisories and security measures, we are not enforcement agencies and lack the authority to control determined violators. The police must take responsibility for upholding the judicial directives.”Residents claimed that there was hardly any police patrolling on the internal roads during the Diwali weekend. The cops were present with PCR vans at several intersections and were answering residents’ complaints from various sectors.The violations were rampant in Greater Noida West too. A resident of Amrapali Centurian Terrace Park in Greater Noida West said their AOA asked residents to wrap up bursting crackers by 11 pm, but the sound of skyshots going off continued till sunrise.Gupta added, “It was somehow very difficult for the AOA to manage young residents. Some of them were so determined to get the perfect shot for their reels that they kept on bursting crackers. So, we had increased security measures with guards who politely asked them to slow down and celebrate responsibly.”Kapil Mehra, former AOA vice president of Amrapali Zodiac Sector 120, pointed out the broader issues at play: “It’s not just about timing; there’s a complete lack of discipline. AOAs cannot monitor every individual or turn residential complexes into enforcement zones. The administration must step up.”Environmental activist Abhisht Kusum Gupta said crackers in Sector 137 continued well past midnight, with some bursting until 3-4 am. Much of the bursting involved loud, non-green crackers, including those set off on roads, in parks and in neighbouring societies, he said.The problem extended beyond bursting timings. Nikhil Singhal, president of Noida Highrise Federation, flagged the open sale of crackers near residential gates in Sector 119, alleging that basic safety measures were missing. Avinash Arun, AOA secretary of RG Residency, Sector 120, said unrestricted sales made it easier for people to buy and burst crackers.In Ghaziabad, however, associations pointed to another complication: religious sentiments. With Diwali closely tied to faith and tradition, objections to late-night bursting were often perceived as interference in celebrations, making it difficult for RWAs and AOAs to intervene. “In the absence of adequate powers and administrative support, RWAs and AOAs feel largely helpless,” said Avneesh Kumar Jha, AOA president of Angel Mercury, Ahinsa Khand 2, Indirapuram, who is also secretary of the Federation of AOAs, Ghaziabad.Sudershan Awasth, general secretary of the Indirapuram Welfare Association, said crackers began bursting as early as 4 am, with pollution levels becoming “out of control”.Residents across both cities said the consequences went beyond noise and air pollution. Late-night explosions disturbed elderly people and children, while the risk of fire in high-rise complexes remained a serious concern. With advisories proving insufficient, they said, enforcement could no longer be left to residents’ associations.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Noida | Silver Rate in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida | Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Petrol Price in Noida | Diesel Price in Noida | CNG Price in Noida | LPG Price in NoidaStay updated with the latest Noida news. Download the TOI App.