The Mineral Resources Department is calling on people to strictly abide by the time designated for the use of fireworks this Diwali.

Deputy Secretary Dr. Raijeli Taga says daily fireworks can be used from 5pm to 10pm but on the day of Diwali and on Monday fireworks can be used from 5pm till mid-night.

Taga says they will also monitor how fireworks are being used by people and any unsafe use of permitted fireworks will be documented.

Taga says monitoring process starts at the import application stage.

“So once the consignment reaches the wharf our inspectorate teams are involved right from the start.so they go and inspect the containers and also they confiscate those that are not permitted and we hold them in storage for destruction.”

The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources in the past years has confiscated prohibited firecrackers sold in some shops.

Meanwhile, currently, there are a total of 125 shops throughout the country who are licensed outlets for selling fireworks.