Nilgiris residents urged to celebrate Deepavali responsibly

The Nilgiris district administration and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) have urged residents to light firecrackers on Deepavali only in designated areas and at certain hours.

TNPCB highlighted the adverse health effects of fireworks, which can cause hearing loss and contribute to pollution. “Regarding this issue, a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court of India requesting a ban on the production and sale of crackers. “In its decision dated 23.10.2018, the court not only instructed the manufacturers to produce crackers using raw materials that will reduce the emission level, but also directed them to produce and sell green crackers in the future.”

The government has set the permissible hours for lighting fireworks from 6am to 7am and 7pm to 8pm. TNPCB has advised the public to use only low-decibel firecrackers that emit less pollutants and avoid lighting firecrackers near hospitals, schools, courts. and places of worship.