Maharashtra government aims for noiseless Diwali in 2010

The ministry of environment has directed the multiple agencies engaged in the manufacture and marketing of crackers to take high-decibel items off the shelves, and instead promote crackers that light up. But the biggest dilemma for the state government is how to contain emissions from the fireworks.

Environment secretary Valsa Nair Singh said, “It is our endeavour to make Diwali 2010 noiseless. We want people to celebrate Diwali as a festival of light, not sound.” The ministry of environment is convening a series of meetings with non-government organisations, cracker manufacturers and marketing authorities, beginning next week.

Knowing that a complete ban may not work, it wants to generate awareness among schoolchildren to buy crackers that light up and are low in sound, like sparklers etc. However, the government has decided to sanction the time extension up to midnight for two days during Diwali. But it is in a dilemma as citizen groups have asked it to strictly adhere to the silent zones during Navratri and Diwali.