Pune: PMC Urges Citizens to Celebrate Eco-Friendly Diwali, Reduce Firecracker Usage

Pune, 31st October 2024: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has urged citizens to celebrate Diwali in an environmentally friendly manner, emphasizing the need to minimize air and noise pollution. The administration highlighted that Diwali is a festival of lights, and the use of firecrackers should be avoided to reduce noise pollution. The large-scale bursting of firecrackers across the city significantly contributes to air pollution, negatively impacting the health of residents.

The PMC encourages citizens to take the initiative to celebrate Diwali safely by avoiding such activities. The unnecessary noise pollution caused by firecrackers is harmful not only to people but also to animals. As a result, the PMC has issued a cautionary appeal. It has been observed that respiratory diseases often arise from the firecrackers ignited during Diwali, and citizens may also suffer from hearing issues due to the loud sounds produced by many firecrackers. Unfortunately, some citizens, especially the youth, end up in hospitals during the festive season, with a higher incidence of health issues among senior citizens.

Citizens are advised to:

– Avoid using firecrackers to help reduce air pollution in Pune
– Refrain from using smoke-producing firecrackers
– Avoid loud firecrackers
– Refrain from bursting firecrackers in peace zones such as educational institutions, hospitals, and courts
– Use LED or solar lights for decorating homes and offices
– Opt for lanterns made from eco-friendly or recyclable materials instead of plastic ones

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will monitor noise pollution and air quality in Pune during Diwali. Due to increased awareness about the environmental impact of firecrackers, the number of firecrackers set off has decreased in recent years. It has been noted that most firecrackers are ignited on Lakshmi Puja day during Diwali. Data will be collected from 11 monitoring stations across different areas to determine which day of Diwali sees the highest firecracker usage, along with information on the times when maximum noise levels are recorded, according to a senior MPCB official.