MUMBAI: To tackle air pollution ahead of Diwali, the Supreme Court has restricted the use of fireworks during all festivals and events across the country to a window between 8 pm and 10 pm. TV actors give their take.
Akashdeep: Oh absolutely, if the climate is effected to such an extent with the smoke and the subsequent smog, I would say ban them 365 days. What’s the thrill in lighting crackers at the expense of ruining our climate that we live in…it just doesn’t make sense. I think the Indian lawmakers must come down heavily on many such issues with no compromise. Just do it for the entire year, not just specific periods. As if to say fireworks at a marriage ceremony or any religious ceremony doesn’t affect the climate. What’s wrong must be stopped and with strict measures in place as otherwise Indians are a jugadu race and always find the second line of operation.
Sneha Wagh: I support this with the growing global warming issues and already we have seen how Delhi has been the victim of pollution, we can least make an effort to not reach that level. The money spent on crackers which creates pollution can be used for a better cause and earn some blessings rather than the curse of our future generation. Have a cracker-free, pollution-free and disease-free Diwali.
Saurabh Pandey: My take on this is that it’s a great step towards lowering pollution. But if I need to make a rule, I would rather say that no crackers at all because at a very young age, I understood the pollution and how firecrackers effect the environment, little birds and animals. We don’t even see that just for those one or two seconds of pleasure for glittering light or a loud sound, we cause so much harm. Many people, in fact, many grown-up people, still burn crackers and waste lots and lots of money. People don’t understand which is why the Supreme Court has probably narrowed it from eight to 10 pm. But, I would say a complete no to firecrackers. Anyway, we have so much pollution in Metro cities, it’s crazy. So we don’t need any more. Also, a lot of money goes into it which you can use for other purposes.
Romit Raj: We all should follow the Law, air pollution is increasing and it’s a step to reduce pollution which is very good, it’s a great decision for us Indians, India should be clean on road and air.
Reyaansh Vir Chdha: It was heart-breaking to hear our neighbour’s dog howl and bark all night long last year listening to the sound of the crackers. It was also heart-breaking to see little kids and babies react to Lakshmi bombs and 10000 ladis. Since I’ve understood the destruction that happens because of fireworks, I never used these lightning devils. My box of tricks in this festival, I play with soothing sounds of my favourite songs and organise in-house musical parties. It’s a good initiative by our government and I support it.
Jasmin Bhasin: I think it is only fair if people begin to walk the talk, when it comes to showing that they care for the environment. Personally, I’ve always been up for green crackers. I believe in being environmental and animal-friendly. The timing stated by the Supreme Court seems perfectly fine. The fireworks business doesn’t suffer, it is the livelihood of thousands of people. Pollution is attributed to many factors, so restricting the use of firecrackers alone will not help in reducing it. But there’s always a start, and let it be this Diwali. I’d like to sum this up as a ‘convenient’ rule and people should respect and adhere to it.
Ssharad Malhotra: Every change has two sides. The air pollution is not only caused by the firecrackers, but this is one of the major reasons, especially in Delhi. However, considering the fact that Diwali is the biggest festival in India and has been celebrated with crackers over the years, the ban would sadden most of the youngsters. I also believe that the ban can help people meet and socialise more than spending time burning the crackers. People will get more involved in get-togethers and in-house activities could be encouraged in the family. It is okay to have it restricted with time limit just like Garba festival. This can solve the issue of environmental harm and people can celebrate the festival as well. We should also think that there is a huge amount of labour involved in the making of these firecrackers; it is a great means of employment for them. That, too, should be considered.
Shashank Vyas: I believe it’s high time we used a better acumen towards this issue. Rather than allowing the two-hour restricted use of firecrackers, this matter calls for a complete ban of noisy and pollutant firecrackers. Doing so may not bring in a revolutionary decrease in the rate of pollution; however, it can be a toddler step towards it. The air and sound pollution during the festival period is turning out to be a villain, especially for senior citizens and infants.
Neelu Kohli: If there is one festival that I dread, it is Diwali. It makes me panic because of the high decibel firecrackers that not only hit the ear like loud drum beats, but also cause pollution by releasing chemicals and metals into the environment. I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court to ban the sale of crackers. My kids stopped bursting crackers from the time they understood what went into making them.
Kajol Srivastava: The ruling was abrupt and didn’t give manufacturers enough time to come up with alternatives. The government could give incentives and help the firecracker industry to invest in R&D to develop more environment-friendly crackers. Also, under the Swachh Bharat initiative, the government could encourage citizens to limit its usage until we can move to nature-friendly alternatives.
Vivian Dsena: I like this decision by the government and support it. I have always been for a green Diwali, but I also understand that a lot of people’s livelihood depends on these crackers and their production and sale. This is a good balance and I respect it. I just hope that people adhere to the timings.
