If things continue as it’s going now, Guwahati will soon catch up with the capital New Delhi in terms of pollution level index after Diwali celebrations and there is a school of thought which is gaining ground that `Green Diwali’— cracker less celebration - is the way forward to counter the alarming rise in air pollution.
Sample this: As many as 75,475 cases related to acute respiratory infection were reported from various city hospitals last year in Guwahati alone during the days following Diwali celebrations.
The reason is heavy air pollution caused by bursting of fire crackers which adds up to the excessive emission pollution by vehicles and other forms of air pollutants.
“The current levels of PM10 and PM2.5 in Guwahati are alarming and show increasing trends causing asthmatic condition in people,” said Prof Sharad Gokhale, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati.
Last year, an 'alarming' rise was recorded in Guwahati’s air pollution level after Diwali. The PM2.5 level shot up to 240 microgram.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant that is a concern for people's health when levels in air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.
“Heavy air quality caused by bursting of firecrackers is dangerous for people suffering with respiratory problem” a city based physician, Dr Krishendu Krori, told G Plus.
Diwali is a festival which is considered to illuminate everyone’s life with lights. However, this comes with a price as the pollution caused by firecrackers, whether in the form of noise or air pollution, is harmful to the environment, said environmentalists.
“Cracker less Diwali or Green Diwali should be the way forward to check the alarming rise in air pollution after the celebration. In a permissible limit the noise level of crackers should be lower than the sound of the vehicle horn…but it is flouted with impunity during Diwali,” said JK Khatoniar of Green Building Consultants.
As concerns over air-pollution loom ahead of Diwali, the central government has launched eco-friendly green firecrackers, which have been manufactured in India and are available in markets for sellers and consumers.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs have been successful in developing various environment-friendly fireworks such as sound-emitting crackers, flowerpots, pencils, chakkar and sparklers.
With concerns over deteriorating air quality levels, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has joined the fight against the use of firecrackers this Diwali.
The central agency has been urging people not to burn firecrackers, in its Clear Air Campaign ahead of the festive season.