Environmentalists ask Delhiites to celebrate eco-sensitive Diwali

Cautioning Delhiites against air and noise pollution caused by fire crackers, many environmental organisations have advised them to celebrate an "eco-sensitive" Diwali by saying no to crackers this year.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has appealed to the people "to act reasonably and prove themselves as better citizens by celebrating an environment-safe Diwali.

"Instead of adding to the pollution, we should enjoy sweets and delicacies with friends and families because we all deserve clean air to breathe and a calm environment to enjoy beautifully lit houses," said S K Tyagi, a senior scientist at CPCB.

"This year, we have launched many campaigns to spread awareness against various health and other hazards resulting from the bursting of firecrackers during the festival.

"We will deploy our monitoring team at 16 places in Delhi to collect data on noise and air pollution on the day of Diwali and make sure that guidelines regarding the use of firecrackers are being followed in those areas," Tyagi said.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has also asked the denizens to save environment by avoiding crackers this year. Warning against increasing air and noise pollution and its adverse effects on health, Vivek Chattopadhyay, a senior researcher at CSE, said, "The temporary joy of bursting firecrackers is soon replaced by the intense air pollution as crackers release toxic gases which are harmful to health.

"It is necessary that guidelines issued by the Controller of Explosives such as not bursting sound-emitting firecrackers after 10pm, no use of sub-standard material in making of crackers and restricting the number of licences issued to shopkeepers for selling crackers, should be followed religiously."

Chattopadhyay also hailed Delhi Police for issuing only 1,000 licences to shopkeepers to sell firecrackers this year.

"Last year, we issued nearly 1,300 licences, but this time it is around 1,000. In 2007, more than 5,000 licences were issued in the national capital," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.

Manisha Gutman of Pune-based NGO Kalpavriksh Environment Action Group also advocated for an eco-sensitive Diwali.

"Few of us realise that firecrackers are mostly made by very young children. Since, the substances being handled are extremely toxic, many of these child labourers get sick and die in their early teenage years," she said. Jitendra Nagpal, a doctor at VIMHANS hospital said, "While children, pregnant women and those having respiratory problems suffer the most due to excessive noise, birds and animals are also affected.

"Scientific data suggests that noise pollution can lead to loss of hearing, high blood pressure, heart attack and sleep disturbances as normal decibel level for humans is 60 dB and an increase by 10 decibels means double the noise volume
and intensity," he said.

"Most severely affected are people with respiratory problems like asthma, bronchitis and those sensitive to pollutants or irritant substances."

Chattopadhyay emphasised that government alone cannot control pollution and RWAs, NGOs and youth will have to play a greater role in saving environment and spreading public awareness about the adverse effects of crackers.

"The problem is that winter is approaching and polluted air does not travel upwards in this season because of inversion. It continues to float in the breathing zone which causes many kind of ailments," he said.

"Emerging trends have shown while sulphur dioxide levels have been increasing during Diwali for the past many years, repairable particles have reduced but they remained above the standard level which is dangerous for our health, especially for sick and elderly people," Chattopadhyay said.

The government, through advertisements, is also urging Delhiites to help make this Diwali as less polluting as possible.