A number of citizen forums and NGOs have appealed to the people to avoid bursting of crackers during the ensuing Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals so that there is no air and sound pollution and the environment remains clean and safe amid the pandemic.
While referring to today’s National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directions on a ban on sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers between November 10 and November 30 in cities and towns with poor air quality, Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG), an NGO said that people of Guwahati must not wait for such a situation to arise but act to protect the state’s environment before it is too late.
“A timely direction from the state government on the issue would have saved the environment of the state as well as the money and effort of all the petty traders, who invest in putting up cracker stalls during Diwali. Even if the government bans the crackers now, or orders only the bursting of green crackers, it won’t be much effective because crackers have already been brought into the markets by the traders and would somehow reach the customers,” SGBG president Krishno K Borooah said.
On the other hand, Assam Vigyan Samity, CRU (NER), Aranyak, Prabhrity, Ellora Vigyan Mancha, Gyan Vigyan Samity etc., have also jointly appealed to the people to let Diwali remain a festival of lights and serenity at a time when COVID-19 has dampened the fervour of most festivals.
The Ellora Vigyan Mancha will organise a statewide campaign in over 20 places including Guwahati on November 11 on awareness about observing a pollution-free and safe Diwali.
