DC sets terms for eco-friendly Diwali

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 13: With Diwali nearing, the Kamrup (M) district administration has made the right noises asking Diwali revelers in the district to limit their noises within the norms set for it.

On July 18, 2005 the Supreme Court of India gave an elaborate judgment regarding implementation of laws for controlling noise generated from crackers etc. Moreover, in its judgment the apex court directed that ‘there shall be complete ban on bursting sound emitting fire-crackers between 10 pm and 6 am. Further the manufacture/sell or use of fire-crackers generating noise level exceeding 125 decibel is prohibited’. 

The district administration is going to constitute a team with its officials, besides officials from police, the GMC and the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) to check and inspect commercial stockiest of fire-crackers to stop the use of such crackers at source.

The district administration has also appealed to the citizens to celebrate Diwali in eco-and-environment-friendly ways.     

The district administration has appealed to the people of the district to (i) celebrate Diwali in a traditiol manner respecting mother earth with earthen lamps, diyas etc., and avoiding the use of electrical bulbs, (ii) use eco-friendly local crackers, (iii) use tural colours, (iv) not to burst crackers near hospitals, (v) control sound pollution, (vi) check concentration of chemical etc., in the air, (vii) dispose waste material in a segregated manner, (viii) assist the GMC in disposing waste materials and (ix) avoid the use of plastic and polythene.

The administration has also issued some advisories asking (i) schools to sensitize children about the harmful effects of fire-crackers, (ii) heads of schools to persolly address the school assemblies in order to dissuade children from using fire-crackers, (iii) holding of rallies to sensitize public on ill effects of fire-crackers, (iv) students, parents and residents’ welfare associations to pledge to celebrate Diwali in an eco-friendly manner etc.