Union, Delhi governments urge residents to observe ‘cracker-free’ Diwali

Both, the Union government as well as the government of Delhi have advised the residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) to observe a “cracker-free” Diwali to avoid worsening the pollution situation any further.

“On this occasion of happiness, I want to make an appeal. Our Delhi is struggling with an acute problem of air pollution, which assumes dangerous proportions on Diwali due to the bursting of fireworks and crackers. This has a detrimental effect on the health of people living here, particularly children and senior citizens. Keeping this in mind, please try not to burst fireworks and crackers. Let us not convert the festival of lights into a festival of smoke,” said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Additionally, Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javedkar has directed the Central Pollution Control Board to set up a control room in Delhi to conduct a daily review of pollution levels from different monitoring stations. Javadekar also appealed to citizens to refrain from bursting crackers during Diwali. “Traffic jams also add to pollution. We appeal to citizens to maintain lane discipline on the roads to reduce congestion and pollution. People should ensure their vehicles are properly maintained and undergo regular pollution checks,” he said.