The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Guwahati as on November 12 is 105, which is considered to be in the 'moderate' category. People who are against the firecracker ban use this as a sufficient ground for which the crackers should be allowed.
Earlier, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed all states and union territories to initiate drives to contain air pollution from all sources in view of the potential aggravation of COVID-19. As such, the NGT has called for a firecracker ban in cities and towns where air quality during November falls under the poor and above category, PTI reported.
Good (0-50)
Satisfactory (51-100)
Moderate (101-200)
Poor (201-300)
Very poor (301-400)
Severe (above 400)
NGT's ban will include only the cities falling in the last three categories. Since Guwahati doesn’t fall under the ‘poor’ and above category; there might be a case for the exemption.
Assam Forest Minister, Parimal Suklabaidya, had also denied a blanket ban being enforced in Assam while speaking to G Plus. “On a personal level, I would insist people opt for non-polluting firecrackers. Instead of banning, we are looking for a solution,” Suklabaidya told G Plus.
A brief history as a reminder of the dangers: Recalling 2019
With the Diwali celebrations coming to an end in 2019, citizens found themselves vulnerable to the threat posed by the degrading air quality.
The Diwali celebrations in Guwahati, like in other parts of the country last year, breached standard air quality parameters even though the Supreme Court of India, in its order, restricted the bursting of crackers on Diwali night to between 8 PM and 10 PM. The apex court had stressed on bursting eco-friendly green crackers that were less toxic and low on noise.
As per Pollution Data in Bamunimaidan, Guwahati, Guwahati AQI levels were in a good category being only 26 as on 25th October. This shot up to 212 and 222 over the next two days to the poor category bypassing satisfactory and moderate levels. This is a clear indicator of the effects of crackers in Diwali as a cause for the degradation of air quality.
The air quality was worst in areas such as Fancy Bazar, AT Road, and Ulubari. It may be noted that on any given day, the air quality level in Guwahati was at its worst between 6-8 pm as the pollutants in the air (PM 2.5) is recorded to be the highest on an average during 6 to 8 in the evening.
Officials at the Pollution Control Board of Assam (PCBA) had attributed the sharp rise in particulate matters in the air to the use of noiseless crackers like Phuljari (sparkle sticks), Kolgos (flower pot) and other sparklers which release harmful gases.
“The colours in the fireworks are created using metal salts. Calcium chloride is used for the orange colour, sodium nitrate for the yellow colour, barium chloride for the green colour and copper chloride for the blue colour. Use of these metals in fireworks can cause diseases in living beings. Sulphur dioxide causes sneezing and shortness of breath, cadmium can damage kidneys, copper irritates the respiratory tract and lead affects the nervous system,” a PCBA official stated.
Along with air pollution, there was no let-up in the noise pollution levels in the city either. In most parts of Guwahati, the ambient noise was found to be more than in previous years.
The PCBA measured the noise level at three places in the city on the occasion Diwali, namely Panbazar (silence zone), Ganeshguri (commercial zone) and Rehabari (residential zone). It was observed that the noise levels remained close to that recorded during Diwali in 2018.
At Panbazar, the average ambient noise level on Diwali day (October 27) between 6 pm and 10 pm was 78.40 dB(A), against 78.50 dB(A) recorded the previous year. Between 7 pm and 8 pm, the noise level was 82.6 dB(A) compared to 76 dB(A) the previous year. The safe standard for a silence zone like Panbazar, having a number of hospitals, educational and other institutions, is 50 decibel.
At Ganeshguri, where the standard noise level should be 65 decibels, the average noise level between 6 pm and 10 pm on Diwali day was 71.50 dB(A), compared to 72.75 dB(A) the previous year.
In the Rehabari area, the noise level on Diwali between 9 pm and 10 pm was as high as 84.7 dB(A). Between 6 pm and 10 pm, the average noise level in the area was 79.32 dB(A), which is around 5 dB(A) higher than last year. The noise standard in the Residential Zone is set at 55 decibels.
The statistics above are a clear indication that both noiseless and traditional crackers were added to the environmental pollution of the city. This also questions the logic of Guwahati’s exemption as data indicated evident effects of pollution affecting citizens.
How air pollution affects the ecosystem?
Apart from humans, the pollution generated in Diwali also affects the overall ecosystem. "Dogs are affected and there are cases where wounds have even led to deaths," said environmentalist Moloy Baruah, President of Early Birds.
There are reported cases of animal cruelty for dogs when animals are harassed with burning crackers wrapped in their tails. As per environmentalists, the Cruelty to Animal Act 1960 has not been implemented properly by the government and the Animal Welfare Board.
Guwahati boasts of a wide diversity of bird habitats. The biggest challenge to these habitats is when fire or sparks fall on the trees destroying endangering the habitats. “Birds are affected by aerial bombs when the cracker residues fall on the trees. Other small organisms are also harmed in trees,” added Moloy Barua.
As per Barua, among the urban habitats, Dighalipukhuri and Uzanbazar are the most affected. He further added that “all legal provisions are in name and that's why these things are happening.”