PPCB, SGPC promote cracker-free Diwali

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 13

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has send a message to the Deputy Commissioner, Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, to ask educational institutes to celebrate green Diwali.

The PPCB Chairman, KS Pannu, said the apex court banned the sale of fire crackers in Delhi-NCR till October 31. According to various reports, it has been pointed out that a large number of fire crackers from Delhi will find its way to major cities of Punjab and that too at discounted prices.

“Air quality index of Punjab nowadays is already falling in poor quality zone at 285. Moderate limit of air quality index is between 101 and 200,” says Pannu. Last year, on the Diwali day, the peak air quality index of Punjab had reached to severe quality zone at 497 which had the respiratory affect on even healthy people.

Hence, it is feared that heavy fire display this year may worsen the air quality of city. The PPCB calls on the District Administration to take a strict action against the bursting of firecrackers, which generate noise exceeding 125 db, which is prohibited by the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.

Meanwhile, the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, has called upon the residents of the city to refrain from bursting crackers to maintain pollution free environment.

Expressing his concerns over increasing air and noise pollution, he said, the SGPC has already reduced the duration of firework display from 30 minutes to between 15 minutes to 10 minutes on special occasions such as Gurpurab and Bandi Chod Diwas.

Moreover, the Shiromani Committee this time arranged a group of devotees from Maharashtra who would display special firecrackers that produce less smoke.