Unfortunately, every year, the quantum of air and noise pollution caused due to the bursting of

firecrackers increases on Diwali.

Firecrackers release pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide etc in
the air, which causes ailments like asthma and bronchitis. Not only the elderly and patients in
hospitals, but animals and birds are also affected due to air and noise pollution.
Though various schools and organisations organised demonstrations prior to Diwali to educate
the masses on a pollution-free festival, their efforts have been futile.
The environment and pollution departments also got notices published in various newspapers
about regulations to curb noise and air pollution, but to no avail.
As per directions of the Supreme Court, bursting of sound-emitting firecrackers has been banned
between 10pm to 6am. However, shockingly, the direction was openly flouted as firecrackers
were burst throughout the night.
This caused excessive noise and air pollution. On the receiving end of this menace were the
elderly and patients in hospitals.
Post Diwali, the roads are littered with the remnants of fireworks. The deluge of garbage,
including empty bottles used to light off rockets, on every nook and corner of the city is a
worrying sign.
Its not a new thing. This happens every year, said Naresh Johar, a city-based writer.
CPCB is, however, satisfied with the dipping levels of some air pollutants. Sulphur dioxide concentration on
Sunday night decreased at five locations from last year. However, the values increased at two locations Pitampura in west Delhi and Shahzada Bagh in north Delhi, where the levels of this pollutant increased from 13
g/m3 last year to 40 g/m3 this time.
Suphur dioxide levels have been found within the prescribed standard of 80 g/m3 at all locations. Nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) concentration also remained on the lower side, ranging between 26 and 87 g/m3 as compared to
44 and 85 g/m3 in 2012.
The NO2 levels are within the prescribed standard of 80 g/m3 at six locations except Shahzada Bagh which is
the only location where it has gone up - from 64 g/m3 to 87 g/m3.

Sulphur dioxide concentration on the festive day decreased at five locations, while
the values increased at two locations in comparison to last year.
Sulphur dioxide concentration ranged between 5 and 56 A-g/m3 as compared to 3
and 63 A-g/m3 last year. SO2 levels have been found within the prescribed standard
of 80 g/m3 at all the locations.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration also remained on the lower side ranging
between 26 and 87 A-g/m3 as compared to 44 and 85 A-g/m3 in 2012.
The NO2 levels are within the prescribed standard of 80 A-g/m3 at six locations
except Shahzada Bagh.
Particulate matter levels have shown an increasing trend at all the locations this year
as compared to last year.
Respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) values ranged between 796 and
1138 A-g/m3as compared to 748 and 951 A-g/m to 3 A-g/m3 during Diwali last year.

Increased Particulate matter levels values in general may be attributed to adverse

meteorological conditions, like lower night time temperature, low mixing height and
low wind speed. Sulphur dioxide concentration on the festive day decreased at five
locations, while the values increased at two locations in comparison to last year.
Sulphur dioxide concentration ranged between 5 and 56 A-g/m3 as compared to 3
and 63 A-g/m3 last year. SO2 levels have been found within the prescribed standard
of 80 g/m3 at all the locations.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration also remained on the lower side ranging
between 26 and 87 A-g/m3 as compared to 44 and 85 A-g/m3 in 2012.
The NO2 levels are within the prescribed standard of 80 A-g/m3 at six locations
except Shahzada Bagh.
Particulate matter levels have shown an increasing trend at all the locations this year
as compared to last year.
Respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) values ranged between 796 and
1138 A-g/m3as compared to 748 and 951 A-g/m to 3 A-g/m3 during Diwali last year.
Increased Particulate matter levels values in general may be attributed to adverse
meteorological conditions, like lower night time temperature, low mixing height and
low wind speed.

GANESHA-Widespread campaigns are already on for an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi festival

but still a large section of the society are unaware of the pollution and environmental damage
caused by Plaster of Paris idols and chemical paints. Some large Ganesha Pandal committees,
to attract maximum crowd conveniently forget the environmental impact caused by the idols. In
2009, date of Ganesh Chaturthi festival is August 23.
The main pollution is caused by the Plaster of Paris Ganesh idols and the chemical paints used
in them.
* Plaster of Paris (POP) is not a naturally occurring material and contains gypsum, sulphur,
phosphorus and magnesium. The idols take several months to dissolve in water and in the
process poison the waters of lake, ponds, rives and seas.
* The chemical paints used to decorate the Ganesh idol contain mercury, lead, cadmium and
carbon and this increases the acidity and heavy metal content in the water.
* Several accessories used during the Ganesh Puja like Thermocole, plastic flowers, cloth,

incense, camphor and numerous other materials are dumped carelessly adding more strain to
the already polluted rivers and lakes.
ALTERNATIVES* Use eco-friendly clay idols painted with natural colors.
* Use permanent idols made of stone and perform a symbolic immersion and reuse the idol each
year.
* Avoid public waterbodies to immerse the idols, instead immerse idol in bucket or tub
HOLI-

Holi is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as

festival of colors. It is primarily

observed in India and Nepal. The most celebrated Holi is in the Braj region, in locations
connected to the Lord
Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon, and Barsana. Bonfires are lit on the eve of the festival,
also known as
Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi) after which prayers are offered.
Holi is
celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna
(February/March).
In most areas, Holi lasts about two days. Every year, thousands of Hindus participate in the
festival Holi.

Such a colourful Holi was soon overtaken by commercialisation,

which started providing exotic colours, but in a highly dangerous
form. Toxic chemicals are being used to get the desired colours.
They do not wash away easily, get mixed in drains and sewage
systems and pollute water bodies and the soil. The festival, which
used to be a healthy revelry of mankind is no longer an exuberant,
healthy event.
Water is an addition gives revelers some relief from the oppressive
heat that hits much of India at this time. While celebrants are still
sure to get wet or drenched this year. The Indian government is
encouraging the public to forego or at least tone down the

splashing. The reason being that Drought is hitting some parts of

india particularly hard this year
DURGA POOJA-Durga puja is the pride of the Bengalis in India. We celebrate this Durga
Puja for 4 days, i.e. Saptami, Astami, Nabami, and Dashami. In Astami, we pray Maa Durga going
to a pandal in our neighbourhood and we offer prayers to the Goddess Durga. In this puja, some
clubs play music boxes at high decibel thus causing sound pollution. Sound pollution is not only
the last thing that happens in Durga Puja. We have water pollution. We immerse the Durga idols
in the waters of the river Ganges. This water gets polluted with the paints in the body of Durga.
The clay gets washed away in water leaving the structure. But what happens to the poisonous lead
and other harmful minerals in the water? This harmful pollutants absorbed in our body someway
or the other. You want to know the harm it causes. Well I have seen..being a witness that some
young people have gray hair!! You will say, young with gray hair...I will say ....Yes! This young
men have gray hair as the pollutants enter the body and cause genetic modification. I am writing
this confidence as I have read it in a report in a science column in newspaper.

Sound pollution is causing harm to our ears and hearing system! The loud music played during
the emersion of Goddess Durga in procession with shouting and screaming hurts our ear, which
can tolerate sound only upto a certain decibel. The music is soothing upto a certain decibel.
Beyond that it becomes an irritant, a nuisance to the human being. He/She feels irritated and
angry and swears those who play the play music barbarically! Music at that point becomes an
object of hatred!
After a days hard work, I came to my house the day after Dashami and laid in bed, just trying to
sleep....but I could not....I couldn't sleep as the noise and shouting of the revelers of Durga Puja
going to the riverside is disturbing my hearing tolerance, irritating me to the full extent that my
face turned red like an apple and I am shouting at them like a mad person!!

The reputed clubs in contrary never use the loudspeakers. Their puja is peaceful. Their puja
shows elegance. They get a lot of prizes. I appreciate a lot and not only me..many visitors wait in
queues for hours to visit the prize winning pujas. Prizes are given to the pujas so that the puja
organizer maintain some ethics and the sense of esthetics helps them stand out from the rest. A
touch of originality is always expected from the puja organizer and the prize goes to them only. I
respect those clubs who maintain an eco-friendly puja and help people appreciate the Goddess
Durga in a wonderful way!