Diwali may be quieter, cleaner as Telangana to comply Centre's advisory
Hyderabad: Diwali may just be quieter and cleaner with the government and traders complying with noise and smoke limits issued by the Centre. After the formation of the state, the Pollution Control Board insisted that firecracker traders take steps to curb sound and air pollution during Diwali.
The traders and dealers held a series of meetings with manufacturers in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, the hub of the firecracker industry, and succeeded in getting 90 per cent of the stock which complies with sound and air pollution standards.
The guidelines issued by the Centre in 2006, in the second amendment to the Environment Protection Rules, 1999, bans the sale or use of firecrackers generating noise levels exceeding 125 decibels. For joined firecrackers (the ‘ladi’ or chain of crackers), it reduced the limit.
Association of Telan-gana Fireworks Dealers president Jonnada Ma-nik Rao said traders procure firecrackers from recognised manufacturers in Sivakasi and they are following the environmental rules.
“This time about 90 per cent of firecrackers will meet the standards and the rest is from unauthorised or illegal manufacturers. Consu-mers are also demanding less smoke and less sound,” he said.
PCB senior social scientist N. Ravinder said programmes organised by various agencies after the amendments to the environmental protection rules had created awareness among manufacturers in Sivakasi.
Dealers fight China crackers
Firecracker dealers have formed a task force to curb the sale of Chinese fire-crackers, which are banned in India. The Centre has banned firecrackers imported from China for violating the Explosives Rules, 2008 and the Environmental Protection Rules, 1999. Customs officials have warned tra-ders and dealers not to import firecrackers from China.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence recently seized Rs 9-crore worth of Chinese-made fireworks in Delhi. The Association of Telangana Fireworks Dealers has formed special teams to identify those trying to sell made-in-China firecrackers. It is also launching a public awareness campaign.
