THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This Diwali, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) wants the public to focus more on light and less on noise. The PCB has, in fact, slapped a ban on exploding ‘noisy crackers’ between 6 am and 10 pm during the festival season.
Moreover, the Pollution Control Board has prohibited the sale and use of crackers which exceed the 125 decibel noise level. Bursting crackers within 100 m of hospitals, courts, educational and religious institutions and in confined spaces too has been banned. The Pollution Control Board has asked the public to celebrate the festival with crackers which give off more light than noise. “Bursting high decibel crackers during Diwali celebrations has become a common practice.
“ When they are burst together, the intensity of the noise is intolerable. This also leads to various health problems,” the PCB said.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has issued a notification regulating the manufacture and use of crackers. Additionally, the Supreme Court, in a July 21, 2005, order, had issued guidelines regarding noise pollution, the Pollution Control Board said.
NO BAM!
Pollution control Board wants the public to focus more on light, less on noise
■ The PCB has, in fact, slapped a ban on exploding ‘noisy crackers’ between 6 am and 10 pm during the festival season
■ PCB has prohibited the sale and use of crackers which exceed the 125 decibel noise level
■ Bursting crackers within 100 m of hospitals, courts, educational and religious institutions and in confined spaces too has been banned by the PCB