Open House: Do you think it is the sole responsibility of the administration to curb pollution?

Switch to eco-friendly firecrackers

Our past experience shows that it is tough to honour the pledge to celebrate a cracker-free Diwali. The rising threat to our environment, though, cries for a total ban on crackers on every occasion whatsoever. But, this is idealism sans reality. Ours is a land of festivals and rituals and crackers have always been an integral part of the celebrations. Diwali is considered, especially by youngsters, a synonym of fireworks. When Diwali is just a few days away, the district administration, as always, can do nothing better than making efforts to ration the fireworks and ban an open sale of crackers. But, as always, the crackers of all sorts will somehow reach the hands of youngsters making this Diwali also a big environmental pollutant. Ban on crackers a few months before the festival has become a routine that costs the traders and manufacturers dearly. The only solution lies in making the manufacturers of smoky fireworks and crackers switch over to the manufacture of eco-friendly ones. For this, all financial and know-how assistance must be provided by the state at a priority. Till this shift over happens, a big awareness drive against crackers must continue non-stop.

HL Sharma

QUESTION

Wrong parking of vehicles, temporary encroachments, illegal cuts on roads and wrong-side driving are common problems ailing the city traffic. What steps should be taken to solve traffic congestion on city roads, especially during the current festive season?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (October 28)

Roll out long-term policy to end practice

Any ceremony or festival connected to any region or religion is directly related to one or another type of business activities. In support of my plea, Diwali festival attracts business relating to printing of cards or gift boxes, sweets, dresses, jewellery and utensils, paints, whitewashing materials, earthenware, fruits and dry fruits, lights, candles etc. and of course, crackers. So to alter the above arrangements is not possible for the local administration. Therefore, the Central Government should form a policy to encourage eco-friendly crackers. The Central Government should apply the same pattern as they did to phase out diesel/petrol vehicles to bring in e-vehicles. In this way the pollution-causing crackers should be replaced with the eco-friendly ones by giving incentives and subsidies to the cracker manufacturing units. The local administration can take temporary measures such as restricted time period for bursting of crackers etc., which is in no way solution to the problem. Moreover, people should also come forward and show their maturity, instead of putting the money in wasteful expenditure to more useful and purposeful cause.

Naresh Johar

Active, aware citizenry can play an effective role

With the arrival of festive season, entire North India is about to get engulfed with the winter spell. Pollution is likely to stay more intense during such period. Therefore, raising mass awareness at the grassroots against the bad effects of air pollution on health as well as on environment must be prioritised.

Hospitals, schools, colleges and crowd-centric places of the city should install more Air Quality Index kiosks with social messages to celebrate safe Diwali.

Ward members, councillors and respectable members of the area could also try to convince and ask residents to provide their valuable inputs to curb pollution caused by crackers before the commencement of festival through social gatherings. More so, social media and WhatsApp groups of every locality can promote celebrating the festival with earthen lamps. The administration alone cannot curb the menace of noxious crackers. Active and aware citizenry can play effective role to tackle this issue.

Nishant Suman

Curb other sources of pollution too

To achieve any target, the biggest driving force is the purpose of the endeavour. Here our goal is to curb air and noise pollution that is why we are asking for a

cracker-free Diwali. Technically, we may be right while demanding the same but crackers are not only cause of such pollution. Pollution due to firecrackers is caused for a day or two whereas due to poor planning of the government we are facing daily power cuts thus compelling the industrial units to run on generators thereby causing pollution. This is due to poor planning and monitoring by the state and central governments. Similarly, the government could not find a solution to the problem of stubble burning which causes a lot of pollution in the region. It is for the government to provide safe and secure environment to the public free from any sort of pollution caused by crackers or generators or stubble burning or from any other source.

Harsh Johar

Take pledge to enjoy cracker-free Diwali

Of late, the administration and the people have got awakened to the perennial problem of environmental pollution particularly air pollution that has assumed alarming proportions and is threatening the very life, existence and safety of people in general. Keeping this in mind, we pledge to celebrate cracker-free Diwali every year but throw caution to the wind when the D-Day arrives. Over the years Diwali celebrations have gone extravagant and taken a toll not only on the environment but also hit the business of many shoppers. Diwali is originally an eco-friendly festival. It is celebrated in the honour of Lord Rama, hence people should celebrate it with lights and diyas and return to our traditional ways of celebrating the auspicious day of Diwali. Though the government, NGOs, and social media have motivated citizens to come forward in supporting eco-friendly ways to celebrate Diwali, many people don’t care two hoots about it. Therefore, the district administration should ban the bursting of crackers. Air pollution caused by the bursting of crackers should be declared a major health issue. Offenders must be brought to book. It should increase awareness about the health hazards caused by the smoke of firecrackers. Cycle rallies and street plays should be organised to create awareness among the city residents. The administration should regularly issue firecracker advisory on TV and FM radio. If people can’t help bursting crackers, they should resort to eco-friendly crackers made with recycled paper. People should celebrate Diwali with friends and relatives by sharing gifts and sweets sans crackers. Money to be spent on crackers should be used for a noble cause. Residents should divide areas and take initiatives of cleaning their neighbourhood. Unless we ourselves understand and take the mantle to protect the environment from the Diwali pollution, no administration can save us from its perilous consequences.

Tarsem S Bumrah

Raise awareness about its ill-effects

Believe it or not, all fairs and festivals, directly or indirectly, add to every type of pollution but Diwali, as also Dasehra, are notorious for their harmful noise levels and air pollution caused by crackers besides adding to issues regarding sanitation. Last year, Covid proved to be a telling factor which compelled the state government to ban the sale of crackers and citizens enjoyed a quiet but humbling Diwali. This year, the administration seems to be already aware of the problem and must not allow the sale of crackers and rockets except at the authorised place. Ideally, such items should be disallowed totally. In fact, the Centre should take up the issue at the production level and control transport of hazardous chemicals such as potassium chlorate, sulphur and silver and mercury compounds. Meanwhile, residents should be made aware of the risks involved and the futility of a momentary euphoria. Only unscrupulous businessmen, with the motive of making quick bucks on Diwali evening, put up cracker counters at street corners. Even if some of them become paupers overnight if their stall catches fire, air pollution is guaranteed even then. In other countries, no one is allowed to play with gun powder. Abroad, celebrations are aimed at collective enjoyment. A few years ago, Delhi students decided to stop buying or bursting crackers all together and earned headlines for their initiative. I think city students should take out early morning processions against these explosives and preach for a calm and quiet bright Diwali. After all it is a festival to share sweets, exchange gifts and rejoice at the arrival of a more acceptable season. It is a Festival of Lights and light, only light, should dominate our celebrations.

Mohan Singh

Ban on firecrackers need of the hour

Firecracker-free Diwali can be possible only by the whole-hearted cooperation of the people. Any crackdown on firecrackers is welcome, but a blanket ban on the manufacture and sale will give the desired results in controlling the pollution caused by these. Since there is a lack of political will by the government to impose blanket ban on firecrackers, only an order from the Supreme Court can yield the desired results. Last year, the Apex Court had given 2-hour window for firecrackers which was grossly ignored. There is also a possibility of a strong back-lash of some individuals who view the ban through the prism of religion. Such ban should be blanket one and had to be announced much earlier, so that the firecracker dealers do not stock heavily for the festival season. With such bans, the SC may appear to have deviated from a bit traditional celebrating the most important festival, but there is no other choice, as it concerns the health of millions. By the blanket ban, livelihood of many is bound to be effected, but for a larger cause, some tougher decisions have to be taken, for which the SC would earn the gratitude of the people.

LJ Singh

Take strict action against violators

It is no revelation that Diwali adds to the already devasting pollution. Fireworks seem fascinating to the human eye but we neglect how much damage they do to the Nature. It’s indeed thought-provoking how every year we promise for a cracker-free Diwali yet go on to fill the sky with smoke with every firecracker in sight that too all night long. We all know how damaging these fireworks are yet we use them. Some might feel the guilt of their empty, hollow and vain promises for a moment or two but that guilt vanishes in the air just like the polluted gases let off on Diwali night, the only difference is these polluted gases mix and stick around in the atmosphere, being a trouble for not only humans but the other flora & fauna that we seem to be so inconsiderate about. The responsibility never lies on a certain individual or group, it lies on everyone. The administration can make rules on rules and policies on policies but if they aren’t strict enough or if the people aren’t going to take it solemnly there’s no point really. If anything, policies without a change in consciousness of the people will only give a rise to the firecrackers black market. I believe that the administration should firstly educate people with videos and images on social media representing how the dark side of firecrackers and how it affects humans and animals both, and then make sure to enforce

policies sternly.

Gurjas Singh

Mobile police should be deployed

In order to make eco-friendly Diwali a success, the district administration should ban crackers and make violation of ban punishable with heavy fines. Round the clock mobile police should be deployed in all areas to prevent misuse of crackers. Awareness about harmful effects of crackers should be made in local news channels. Moreover, it is not only the sole responsibility of the administration to curb pollution. Every year despite bans the residents crackers amounting to pollution as they know that the police are not going to take any action against them. The residents should come forward to prevent themselves from bursting crackers as it’s in the interest and welfare of all that native places don’t get engulfed in smog of crackers which causes health problems to all.

Sanjay Chawla