Open house: How to encourage residents to celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali?

Not a diwali tradition

Why is everybody freaked about bursting crackers once a year during Diwali and not caring about industrial and vehicular pollution, which is major cause of environment deterioration? We say bursting crackers is a tradition on Diwali. You are ill-informed. Diwali is a festival of lights (diyas, candles and electric lights) and not crackers (sound and air pollution). We are also down playing pollution it creates. Every other person complains about smog that engulfs cities after Diwali. Are you sure that by banning crackers on Diwali pollution will reduce? To stop people from bursting crackers they must be apprised that it is not even a ritual of Diwali. If a small kid has fun while burning crackers then let him do so because the focus is on 0.07% pollution this practice creates.

Vineet Gandhi, Chandigarh

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Promote eco-friendly celebrations

People will burst crackers if these are available in markets. The Administration should ban sale of crackers, which create pollution in the tricity and encourage sale of green crackers. People cannot be deprived of festivities, but eco-friendly celebrations with green crackers can certainly be promoted.

Sapna Sharda, Chandigarh

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Guidelines just an eyewash

The guidelines issued by the Administration seem to be an eye wash. To make efforts worthwhile, first and foremost, minimise the issue of licences for manufacturing crackers. Again, there should be restriction on licences for selling crackers. No crackers, which make loud noise or smoke, should be manufactured. Orders must be issued well in advance and not one week before Diwali when crackers are already up for sale. Ban on firecrackers should be strictly implemented by involving RWAs.

BS Dhillon, Mohali

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Prefer Community celebrations

Avoid bursting firecrackers on Diwali. Rather spend the evening while listening to music and dancing, playing games, and having special dinner. Communities/societies can oraganise Diwali celebrations. Community celebrations give more pleasure than individual celebrations. We have to save environment and mother Earth. Bursting of firecrackers not only causes pollution, but is also detrimental to the health of the elderly, children and animals. Many people suffer from pollution-related ailments during the festive season. Buy only eco-friendly crackers

Vijay Malia, Chandigarh

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Encourage people to save environment

The people have completely ignored the ban imposed on crackers by the SC. The half-hearted approach of the Administration to implement the ban on bursting of crackers during Diwali has further reduced fear among masses. Hardly anyone has been implicated for the lapses till date. The ill-effects of bursting crackers must be highlighted to make people aware. Ban production and sale of environment polluting crackers. Allow production of only green crackers. The religious angle given to bursting of crackers must also be taken care through awareness campaigns. Nothing can be achieved by polluting environment. People should be encouraged to spend money on saving environment rather than polluting it in the name of faiths.

Wg Cdr (Dr) JS Minhas (retd), Mohali

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Use LED lights for decoration

Children must be educated to celebrate Diwali with green crackers in order to save the environment. At the same time, the authorities must ban sale of crackers, which pollute environment and create health problem for seniors. LED lights can be used for decoration during celebrations.

Col TBS Bedi retd), Mohali

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Two-hour window flouted with impunity

Like every year, this year too tricity residents burst crackers with impunity. They flouted two hours window from 8 pm to 10 pm for bursting crackers. The deafening noise of the fireworks could well be heard even after the midnight. The point is symbolic bursting of crackers is fine, but the problem arises when this madness continues for unlimited period. As responsible citizens it’s our duty to save our deteriorating environment. Otherwise, the day is not far when face masks and gas cylinders will become a permanent part of our lives.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur

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Put a cap on production of firecrackers

Residents should be motivated to limit bursting of firecrackers.

The government should cap production of firecrackers. Residents should be motivated not to burst firecrackers. People can complete the Diwali ritual by bursting one or two firecrackers. It will keep environment pollution within limits.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

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Ban was imposed half-heartedly

Not been able to enforce ban on crackers during Diwali night speaks about reluctance or helplessness of the Administration in the tricity. The ban was scoffed at by young zealots. The Mohali Administration officially allowed bursting of crackers for two hours. As there was no one to stop them they continued bursting crackers till past midnight. This caused noise and air pollution everywhere in the tricity. A city like Chandigarh has a good chunk of well-educated population, which fails to realise the harm that such boisterous act causes to everyone. An awareness campaign must be started by the authorities concerned before festive season with punitive action for offenders so as to have some sobering result on the ground.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Educate kids about harms of crackers

The authorities should work in coordination by imposing complete ban on crackers in the tricity. This year, Mohali residents had permission to burst crackers for two hours while there was a complete ban on crackers in Chandigarh. Educational institutions should educate children about harms of bursting crackers like poor air quality, respiratory problems and suffering burns through demonstrations, lectures and practical. The government has to curb the sale of crackers by imposing complete ban and punish violators.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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No fine imposed on violators

Every year the government make rules, but always ends up with their poor implementation. No fine is imposed on people, who flout ban on crackers. People should celebrate green Diwali by lighting earthen lamps. There should be check on the sale of crackers. Besides, the manufacture of crackers should be limited.

Avinash goyal, Chandigarh

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A wakeup call for admn, residents

The worsening air quality index (AQI) of the tricity after Diwali every year must act as a wakeup call for the administration and residents. Focus should be on celebrating an eco-friendly Diwali. The administration should completely ban the sale and bursting of fireworks. Instead of bursting crackers, residents can make rangolis, traditional home-made lanterns, paint earthen lamps and spend some quality time with their families. Bursting of crackers is an environmental issue and not religious or political.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

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Not easy to change people’s mindset

Diwali is a festival of lights and sound. As per centuries old tradition, its celebrations do not end without bursting crackers. Old habits die hard. It is not easy to change the mindset of the people. Even fines are imposed, but there is hardly any physical checking to implement ban on crackers. Only awareness and efforts of the civil society or NGOs can help change the mindset of people towards bursting crackers. Political and religious leaders must not justify bursting of crackers. There are other options to celebrate Diwali with flowers or electric crackers without affecting us or the environment.

Suresh Verma, Chandigarh

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How to implement cracker ban?

The best way to tackle flouting of ban on crackers is to keep a strict vigil on violators. Some people only understand the language of penalty or punishment. Strict action should be taken against those, who violate ban. Only green crackers should be allowed. Illegal sale of crackers must be stopped in the tricity. Real question is how the Administration should implement cracker ban as it remains only on paper.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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Say yes to life, no to crackers

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change should launch a campaign to create awareness among various stakeholders about harms of crackers and encourage people to combat air and sound pollution. The smoke and loud noise of crackers disturb environment balance. Moreover, crackers cause immense distress among birds and animals. Schools and colleges must sensitise students about harmful effects of crackers.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

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Ban goes up in smoke

Just before Diwali, concerns about air pollution aggravating Covid infections had led to various states imposing restrictions on firecrackers. Unfortunately, all such restrictions were widely flouted and air quality plummeted to ‘severe’ levels at several places post Diwali. If curbs fail at the point of sale, then the police and other authorities have an unwieldy task of preventing cracker bursting. Highhandedness hardly helps in wooing public. Indians, who insist on bursting crackers, are comparable to those in the US, who resist masks by quoting free choice and even theological reasons. Only collective action can safeguard public health and clean air.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Violators must be imprisoned

The Administration should make people aware about harms of bursting crackers and encourage them to celebrate green Diwali. Those, who violate cracker ban, should be punished with fine and imprisonment. The sale of crackers should be prohibited. Green Diwali is necessary if people want good air and ozone layer and balanced ecosystem.

Adish Sood, Amloh

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Lack of willpower to enforce ban

When the government does not have the willpower to implement cracker ban then why blame people? Most people bought crackers before Diwali. The fact is that government does not want manufacturers, businessmen and shopkeepers to suffer. So, it gives them chance to sell crackers as they help all political parties during election. If the government is serious about pollution, the sale of crackers should be banned from Dasehra onwards.

Sukhwant Bhullar, Chandigarh

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Don’t rob children of all the fun

It’s unfair on the part of the Administration to impose complete ban on crackers to reduce pollution. It’s an ongoing and persisting problem. As civilised citizens we need to identify causes of pollution. They can contribute to efforts for reducing air pollution by car pooling, walking, observing no car days, minimum use of AC and let children enjoy Diwali. Please don’t rob them of this fun.

Anju Mohan, Panchkula

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Educate residents, penalise violators

Chandigarh is a city of educated persons. Still, cracker ban in not implemented 100 per cent in the UT. This aim can only be achieved by educating people and strictly banning the sale of crackers. Crackers are not manufactured in the tricity. These are brought from other states. Strict checking and penalising those, who violate ban, can give positive results and encourage people to celebrate green Diwali.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Launch online complaint facility

No doubt ban on bursting crackers on Diwali was total failure in the tricity. The Administration did not take action against violators resulting in the poor AQI level. To check this menace the Administration must rope in councillors and the police personnel. Advertisements and announcements cannot bring desired results. Violators should be penalised and imprisoned for 24 hours. Online complaint facility should be launched for reporting cracker ban violation. Identity of the complainant should be kept secret.

AK Jindal, Patiala

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Strict enforcement of ban can help

Educated society is not able to differentiate between right and wrong. The Administration warned the public about harms of bursting crackers on the environment. It even imposed ban on firecrackers during the festival season. The public response towards ban shows that only rule with a rod of iron can bring the desired results.

Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali

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Commitment towards green concerns

Despite repeated campaigns, Diwali always sees countless cracker bursting. One needs to think about environment and rising air pollution. Firecrackers release toxic gases that are harmful for all living beings. The high-level noise generated by crackers causes immense suffering among birds and animals. Besides, crackers are dreaded by the sick. Sadly, few realise that firecrackers are mostly made by young children. Since the substances handled are extremely toxic many child labourers fall sick. Anti-cracker campaigns ahead of Diwali go up in smoke. Children can be made aware of advantages of the cracker ban in schools. Parents should provide children colourful candles and diyas. Social workers can enact skits and dramas and distribute handbills to highlight harms of bursting crackers. Rather than setting legal provisions, it’s time to make personal commitment to protect environment by celebrating green Diwali.

Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

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admn should adopt tough measures

The cracker ban went up in smoke on Diwali. Next is the auspicious occasion of Gurpurab when residents will burst crackers. Actually, the Administration has to adopt tough measures to handle the situation. At the same time citizens should follow decisions (cracker ban) for maintaining good air quality. If we want to get rid of the menace the Union Government should ban production of crackers. Otherwise, people will continue to burst crackers.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

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Allow Rwas to take responsibility

A strict vigil should be kept in the tricity to implement cracker ban thoroughly. Housing societies and complexes should be given strict instructions not to allow bursting of crackers. The RWAs should be given responsibility of preventing bursting of crackers in their locality. The authorities should give licences to certain shopkeepers for selling only green crackers. A portal can be launched for reporting unauthorised sale of crackers or violation of ban. People should be sensitised towards harmful effects of crackers.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

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Citizens’ duty to protect environment

The UT Administration had banned crackers during this festival season. It’s everyone’s guess how effective was the enforcement of this ban. The police and other government agencies were again unsuccessful in implementing the cracker ban on Diwali night. No one is against celebration of any festival. As responsible citizens we have a duty to protect the environment. Traders hoard crackers well in advance and sell these at exorbitant prices just before Dasehra and Diwali. This can happen only with the collusion of authorities concerned. It’s time to shift to green crackers.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

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Exemplary punishment to violators

Despite ban, some people burst high intensity crackers this Diwali. The Administration should involve resident welfare associations to crack down on those, who burst crackers and polluted city’s environment. The violators must be given exemplary punishment irrespective of their social status in order to deter others from violating ban.

Sqn Ldr Manjit Johar (retd), UT

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QUESTION

The Municipal Corporation (MC), Chandigarh, has allowed market welfare associations to operate inner market parking lots free of cost. What steps should associations take to smoothly run unmanned parkings in the UT?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]