The Times of India        18.10.2010

Cops, BMC to enforce ban on crackers

  MUMBAI: Unlike in the past, this Diwali walking or driving on the roads may be easier and safer during the festive season. The state government has decided to rope in police and BMC officials for effective implementation of the law that bans people from bursting or lighting fire crackers on public roads and places designated for people to walk in or for vehicles to run. A decision to this effect was taken by the state environment department at a meeting held in Mantralaya on Friday.

"The department will write a letter requesting police officials and the civic administration to ensure that firecrackers are not lit on the roads," said environment secretary,

Valsa Nair-Singh. The meeting chaired by Nair-Singh was attended by representatives of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, NGOs and Andh Shraddha Nirmoolan Samiti.

In the meeting, members suggested that Diwali celebrations on roads (bursting of crackers) should be strictly monitored. Members urged the agencies concerned to curb the sale or storage of firecrackers on the roads and pavements. "Lighting of crackers on roads causes problems to many pedestrians and vehicles. Members suggested that stern action should be initiated against the offenders," the secretary stated.

According to the department, firecrackers like atom bomb (threaded balls with a single wick) and other such fancy fire crackers do not comply with noise pollution norms. It is mandatory for all firecracker manufacturers to mention the details of chemical content and noise pollution levels. However, it is learnt that many firecracker manufacturers do not comply with norms. "To ensure that firecrackers violating the norms are stopped at an initial stage, a joint visit by police, BMC, MPCB and other officials concerned have been planned in the following week," she added.

Welcoming the initiative taken by the government, environmentalist Sumaira Abdulali of the Awaz Foundation said, "Restricting lighting of crackers on the roads was needed. There are too many CNG vehicles on roads. Even a small leak is enough for a car to go up in flames."

The administration should put restrictions on lighting and bursting crackers on the society premises too. The government should ensure that crackers are lit in designated areas, she added.

The environment department is keen on taking the help of students to make their plan a success. The environment department has planned to rope in the school education department. An order will have to be issued where it will be mandatory for all schools to ask their students to 'say no to crackers' on Diwali. "Students will have to understand that polluted gas is emitted from the crackers, its side effects. They will have to realize how difficult it becomes to walk or drive on roads if crackers are burst in public places. This will help us in achieving the goal," Valsa Nair-Singh pointed out.