With the sound, smell and lights of firecrackers already evident throughout much of Shillong and elsewhere this Diwali, the Khasi Students Union (KSU) has belatedly requested the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner to promulgate a ban on fireworks.
The KSU’s environment protection cell said in a letter to the DC that the festival is cherished by a majority of the citizens of the country and by many in Meghalaya but the harmful effects of firecrackers on the environment, public health and general safety are concerning.
Use of fireworks increases air pollution, light pollution, sound pollution and generates physical waste that litters the streets, causing problems for the elderly, children as well as birds and pets. Their use also leads to accidental fires and injuries, the pressure group added.
The KSU also stated that many people who celebrate Diwali support eco-friendly alternatives to fireworks, such as lighting of lamps and cultural activities “that uphold the spirit of the festival without causing any environmental harm or damage.”
