Homes and streets in Nagaland are illuminated by decorative electrical lights come advent. Does this reduce the use of firecrackers? The answer is a NO, which is a matter of concern.
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In line with Supreme Court directives and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines, Dimapur police issues an advisory ahead of the festive season every year, cautioning the citizens against the use of banned firecrackers that are hazardous to health as well as the environment. As per the directives, citizens are allowed to use only improved or green crackers certified by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO), and that too between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali and other festivals, and from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am (35 minutes). To ensure that banned firecrackers are kept out of the market, only licensed traders are permitted to sell them (improved crackers). It may be reminded that the permissible noise limit for firecrackers is 125 dB (AI) or 145 dB pk at a four-metre distance. The advisory also bans fireworks within 100 metres of silence zones, which include hospitals, healthcare centres, educational institutions, courts, religious places, etc. The defaulters can be penalised under law. These restrictions are necessary for more reasons than one. For instance, excessive air and noise pollution can cause health problems like hearing issues, high blood pressure, and stress in humans. Besides causing serious injuries and fire incidents, it gives a harrowing time to the elderly and the sick, particularly those suffering from asthma, respiratory and other diseases. It also causes panic in animals, including pets. However, advisories from the concerned authorities and experts are hardly followed on the ground. In fact, a disturbing trend, something that was once unheard of in our region, has picked up in Nagaland, especially in urban areas. The sound of fireworks is getting louder, and the air is thicker with dust filling the skies during Christmas and New Year.
Surveys have said that the demand for firecrackers during Diwali has declined over the years, with many shifting to other alternatives amid aggressive awareness campaigns and due to growing environmental concerns. But the same can’t be said about Christmas. Homes and streets in Nagaland are illuminated by decorative electrical lights come advent. Does this reduce the use of firecrackers? The answer is a NO, which is a matter of concern. This trend needs to be arrested. We don’t have to be told and forced to protect the environment. It’s only right to do so for our own good and for the next generation. We should take responsibility for our actions. We don’t have to pollute the air and harm the environment to celebrate.