Banning crackers just before Diwali will not serve any purpose

What must be done to enforce ban on firecrackers in letter and spirit ?

Only licenced dealers should sell crackers

It is very unfortunate that residents, government and the police failed to stick to the directions of the NGT to limit the burning of firecrackers between 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali. People started burning firecrackers even before Diwali and even after Diwali. Covid-19 is playing havoc with the lives of people. Reckless burning of firecrackers only exacerbated air pollution and Covid related deaths. Although, Delhi Government had banned the burning of firecrackers totally, it later on relaxed it a bit. The result was such that the firecracker dealers transferred their merchandise to Punjab with impunity. Why did the Punjab Government allow it in the first place? No police action was taken to stop this. The air quality of the state has worsened from poor to very poor. A strict action should have been taken to control the illegal activity beyond the stipulated time. Only a few FIRs were registered by the police. The elderly with co-morbidity and the children were the most sufferers. In future, only the licensed dealers should be allowed to sell firecrackers. We should learn from the 1918 Spanish Flu when the second wave of spike was greater than the first one because the people became complacent, resulting in millions of deaths, India being the worst sufferer. The government and the police need to be strict in future to control the large scale burning of firecrackers to save the people from air pollution.

Dr JS Wadhwa

Realise your moral responsibility

Acting tough, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), in line with the 2019 Supreme Court directive, imposed a blanket ban on the sale and use of firecrackers ahead of Diwali across the country. But the story this year was no different in the Delhi-NCR region and its neighbouring states. As always, the obdurate young revelers flouted all restrictions and burst crackers with impunity. The pollution levels rose to a four-year high. Both the public and the state are equally at fault. People do not care two hoots about sticking to the norms. Though Covid-19 awareness campaigns and health and safety protocols were issued from time-to-time, it was failure at the end of the Punjab government to implement the rules in letter and spirit, which complicated the already worsening situation. This is not the right time to show laxity. We need to introspect. Why does the government make tall claims about checking pollution on Diwali and other festive celebrations? Isn't it a mockery of law that reflects poorly on our democratic governance? If people do not realise their moral responsibility to keep the environment clean and help combat the deadly virus gripping the entire nation, authorities should deal with this sternly. Violators should be given exemplary punishment in a time-bound manner, including heavy fines. Likewise, the concerned officials should be held responsible for dereliction of duty. What is actually needed is a collective, collaborative action by the authorities as well as the public at large. For a better future, let us completely ban the manufacture of harmful fireworks and refrain from indulging in any such practice. and celebrate a safe Diwali by lighting earthen diyas and candles.

DS Kang

Don’t let festivals be just a show of wealth

Despite awareness on the social media, some persons are errant and throw caution to the wind. If everyone thinks like this, things are most likely to deteriorate. Diwali has become a show of wealth. Many people feel that bursting of firecrackers would do no harm. Let us fill our homes with prayers and light, not with fumes and crackers and not let a festival become a show of wealth.

Shailja Thakur

Ban should be announced beforehand

Despite a surge in the Covid-19 cases and a consistent rise in air pollution, people were busy bursting fire crackers. The norms were given a go-by. It is a known fact that air and noise pollution is a hazard. Government allowed crackers for a limited time frame from 8 pm to 10 pm for Diwali, Chhat Puja and Gurpurab. Government should shut firecracker manufacturing units after Diwali to resolve the issue permanently. Banning firecrackers one or two weeks before Diwali will not serve any purpose because people buy the stock in advance. Most of the people want the cracker manufacturing units to be shut. But this is not a viable option. Sale of crackers should be regulated, not banned completely. Instead manufacturing of green crackers should be encouraged.

Shashi Kiran

Where are the law enforcing agencies?

The ban on firecrackers this time was not adhered to by the people. Instead, we polluted the environment with great zeal and enthusiasm. The role of the law enforcing agencies was negligible. The government should have put a blanket ban on the sale of crackers. Its manufacturing should be banned and defaulters behind the bars. The government should take care of the health of the people and not hanker after votes all the time. Let's learn from it and don't let it happen next time.

Ravi Davesar

NGT's norms were flouted with impunity

In contrast to the NGT's advice of total ban on firecrackers on Diwali, the state government seems to have diluted it and its consequences after Diwali were disastrous. Nobody bothered to obey the rules in general and restrictions of bursting firecrackers within a fixed time slot were not heeded to. The pressing issues regarding the worst air pollution and threatening surge in Covid-19 cases could not make people realise the seriousness of the whole situation. The experience indicates that self-discipline and voluntary compliance of rules and regulations, even in their own interests, are alien to public at large. In such as a scenario, the administration is left with no choice but to take drastic measures followed by strict enforcement with zero tolerance thereof. To begin with, it is proposed that there should be a total ban on the sale and purchase of firecrackers of any type.

Jagdish Chander

Creating awareness best viable option

The need of the hour is to create awareness. However, highly educated citizens are just jeering crowd on violating rules on ban of crackers. Creating awareness is the best counter to this consequence. It is better to start with ourselves. Joining peaceful campaigns and going in neighbouring areas; educating unaware and illiterate people about importance of eco-friendly celebrations and harmful impact of fireworks on environment, animals will certainly bring a visible change. Advertisements on websites, banners, posters, leaflets can all contribute in bringing improvements. The meetings should be conducted by sarpanches of the villages. In spite of wasting money on firecrackers, donating reusable items, clothes, sweets are the best ways to have eco-friendly celebrations. And, violators should be put in prison. Moreover, the government should take some steps towards it. In my opinion, harmful crackers should totally be banned and people selling them should be behind bars.

Gurpreet Khush

Strike at the root of the problem

In our country guidelines for any fruitful purpose carry no meaning. See the fate of stubble burning and traffic rules guidelines. It is only the strict rules with huge amount of fines that plays as a deterrent to enforce the same. A massive advertisement campaign by the central and state governments failed to convince the general public about the ill-affects of the air pollution caused by firecrackers.

Harsh N Johar

Ban has no meaning

When Lord Rama came back then earthen pots were lit by people, I wonder from where the ritual of bursting crackers descended. As in Punjab, government allowed bursting of fireworks for two hours only, but I think it will not work here or anywhere in India. So, either you ban it or you don't. Here are some takeaways. Firstly, the transportation of crackers must be stopped from entering the state. So, the policemen are the anchor here. Secondly, if the crackers belong to a registered company then government should sue it. If unregistered, then origin must be traced and appropriate action should be taken. The newspapers should highlight this point and insist people to use only diyas and candles.

Raghav Sharma

QUESTION

A second wave of Covid-19 is feared in Punjab as the number of cases is witnessing a rise everyday. What should the authorities and residents do to prevent a second outbreak of the virus?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to [email protected] by Thursday (November 26).

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