Pollution Control Board campaigns for eco-friendly, safe Deepavali

A rally of 15 autorickshaws, fitted with public address systems was flagged off on Monday from the District office of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in Arumbakkam. 

The awareness programme, conducted every year, is to ensure that the message of a safe Deepavali is spread to each of the city’s 15 zones, with the help of these autorickshaws. The campaign was kickstarted at the office of the District Environmental Engineer (DEE), Chennai, at Arumbakkam by Joint Chief Environmental Engineer K Kumar and DEE, R Sarasavani on Monday morning. These autorickshaws will announce the ill-effects of air pollution due to bursting of crackers and bursting of high noise emitting fire crackers. 

Before the rally was kicked off, a pledge was taken to ensure that crackers will be handled with care to avoid accidents, children to burst crackers under adult supervision and taking precautions such as keeping adequate sand and water. The crackers should be burst only in open spaces and not in silent zones where hospitals and schools are located. 

Awareness banners have been displayed in selective bus terminus and railway stations and awareness pamphlets will also be distributed to all.