Visakhapatnam: Environmentalists want green Diwali

VISAKHAPATNAM: City-based environmentalists are asking citizens to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali this year. Vizag Vegans, a group that works for the welfare of animals and environmental causes, organised a rally on the Beach Road to create awareness about the harmful effects of fire-crackers on both humans and animals.

T. Gunwanth of the Fe-deration of Indian Anim-al Protection Organisati-ons (FIAPO) said, “Several fire accidents occur every year. Rough estimates claim that nearly 10,000 people are injured by crackers. Most of the victims are children in the age group of 8-16.” Diwali is a festival of lights. But people celebrate it by bursting noisy crackers that emit acrid smoke, resulting in both air and sound pollution. A prolonged exposure to such high levels of noise can cause permanent damage to the eardrums.

“Heavy smog hangs low in the air on Diwali night and for a few days after that. We cannot ignore the fact that we are inhaling poison. The levels of sulphur nitrates, magnesium, and nitrogen dioxide increases rapidly. These chemicals are injurious to the respiratory passages of bo-th humans and animals,” said  another member of Vizag Vegans, V. Sundeep. “Smoke released during one Diwali night causes as much damage to the ecology as pollution over a span of one year. Many land animals and birds get frightened, traumatised, and sometimes they may even die,” he added.

The phenomenal amount of garbage visible on the day after Diwali is extremely hazardous, comprising of chemicals like phosphorous, sulphur and potassium chlorate. Apart from stressing on the importance of an eco-friendly Diwali, the group is also fighting for animal equality, ethical treatment of animals, adoption of stray dogs, and abolishing of animal testing in laboratories for cosmetic and medical products.