Beijing to cut down sale of fireworks to combat pollution

In a bid to cut down air and noise pollution, Beijing Municipality will reduce sales of fireworks during the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival by cutting the number of retail outlets.

China permits the sale and use of fire works for about month every year for the festival during which Chinese people use massive amount of explosive pyrotechnic devices to celebrate the event which is on January 28.

Fireworks will be sold in 511 designated outlets, down 28.9 per cent from last year, an official with the Beijing municipal safety supervision bureau said. The city is just recovering from nearly two week long bout of heavy air pollution.