Follow restrictions on cracker use, urges TNPCB

While the Supreme Court has ordered that crackers should be burst only within the stipulated time period to check both noise and air pollution, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has been creating awareness on the rules Chennaiites should follow. Sources from the board claimed that they would monitor five areas in Chennai, apart from 11 other districts.

Stating that they are creating awareness among the public through district officers, a source from the TNPCB said, “Since we are not allowed to take action against the violators, all we can do is create awareness on the partial ban which allows the public to burst crackers only between 7 am and 8 am and between 7 pm and 8 pm. Besides, we are also urging the public to burst less noisy crackers.”

He added, “We are monitoring the situation in Triplicane, Besant Nagar, Nungambakkam, Sowcarpet and T Nagar in Chennai and 11 other districts including Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore and Trichy.”

The board has been monitoring the air quality seven days before and after Deepavali. In a release issued by the board, requests have been made to burst crackers in open spaces and to avoid doing so near hospitals and temples. The public has also been urged to avoid bursting crackers near huts and places that can catch fire immediately.

The Air Quality Index that was updated by 5 pm on Monday revealed that the situation at Manali is unhealthy with the PM2.5 of 152. With a moderate rate at the US Consulate and IIT and Alandur in the city, the PM2.5 stood at 61, 65 and 70 respectively.