Will Jammu have a Green Diwali?

JAMMU: Learning no lessons from the exponentially polluted air through the Diwali season in recent years, State Pollution Control Board has failed to take any effective measures for ensuring ‘Green Diwali’ for Jammu, and is resorting to merely an awareness drive.
SPCB’s Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Data gathered from three stations in Jammu - Bari Brahmana (industrial), Narwal and MAM Stadium (residential), shows that air pollution levels during Diwali festivities over the past two years have been higher than the levels considered safe.
On 19th October 2017, the day when people were busy bursting crackers on Diwali, RSPM (Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter), one of the deadliest pollutants, shot to 290.4 micrograms per cubic metre (mpcm), in MAM Stadium area – the year’s highest. Another pollutant, SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter) was recorded at 448 mpcm in the same area –also, year’s highest. The same day, PM2.5 (Particulate Matter of size less than 2.5µm) was found to be at 87.3 mpcm against the permissible limit of 60 mpcm.
In the year 2018, when Diwali was being celebrated on 7th November, RSPM was recorded at 202 mpcm in Narwal area, that is, more than double the permissible limit of 100, whilst PM2.5 was at 77.49 mpcm. Further, SPM hit another high of 355 mpcm in the said area, against the permissible limit of 200 mpcm.
“Diwali, a festival of lights, has predominantly become a festival of sound and smoke, not only in New Delhi, but here in Jammu too. With deadly air pollutants higher than the permissible limits, especially around Diwali, Jammu is gradually joining the bandwagon,” remarks an environment activist.
“In addition to monitoring the air quality pre and post Diwali, we will run an awareness campaign in print and electronic media regarding green crackers, which are eco friendly. Also, we will involve some NGOs for this,” says Dr Syed Nadeem Hussain, IFS, Regional Director, Jammu.
Sameer, a local notes, “Notwithstanding the spike in toxicity levels in the air proven by their own data, SPCB’s dependence on awareness campaigns is not enough. Having said that, clean environment is the responsibility of the each and every citizen.”
Pertinently, fireworks are not manufactured in Jammu, but imported largely from Tamil Nadu’s Sivakasi and Punjab. As such, it is also upon the retailers to bring green crackers manufactured on the formula developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Environmental Research Institute (NEERI).
Ravi Shah Patakhe Wale from Arnia mentions that they are aware of the green crackers, with reduced capacity to cause air and noise pollution, taking centre stage across the country. However, he adds, “We would have imported them if they were manufactured in required quantity for our customers and in time. Supreme Court’s ban on conventional crackers in 2018 has affected the fireworks industry in Sivakasi, and consequently our business.”
Sunny, a shopkeeper in Janipur, says, “We have learnt that some of the manufacturers had been busy with training in new and improved crackers, as such, they were left with less time to manufacture and retail those crackers to regions apart from Delhi-NCR. You’ll find fewer lari’s (joint crackers) in Jammu’s market this year.”
Ravi Shah claims that the conventional fireworks they sell are already produced with low emission levels.
Dr Syed Nadeem Hussain states, “It is for the government to decide on sale of fireworks – conventional or green. Moreover, there is no provision here, which limits the time for bursting crackers. We can only request people to burst fewer crackers or turn to eco friendly ones.”
According to Sushma Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, “Using green crackers is just an advisory. Those wishing to sell such crackers will be given permission.”
Sameer suggests hand-made diyas, eco-friendly gifts, biodegradable crockery such as doona-pattal, home décor with recycled items, rangoli from organic colors, no plastic gift wraps, and so many more novel ideas and initiatives that can be brought into practice for Green Diwali.
Matter of the fact, Jammu will not have a Green Diwali. Atleast not this year!