Ranchi, 22nd Oct, 2022 : SwitchON Foundation held a city wide public awareness campaign titled ‘Smoke Free Diwali’ urging and appealing citizens to say no to firecrackers this year. This was organized in support of the Jharkhand Pollution Control Board in having various activities with organizations, schools and colleges being a part of it. The initiative aims at raising public sensitivity towards the pollution caused by bursting crackers and illustrates how the effect is not just immediate, but long term.
JSPCB will adhere strictly to central norms based on Environment Protection Act (1986), which says anybody found bursting crackers between 10pm and 6am or within a 100m radius from silence zones is liable to prosecution. Also further implementing the NGT order (ON:249/2020) maintaining the restriction on the use of fire crackers while promoting green crackers in cities/towns where air quality was ‘moderate’ or below, only for two hours and only during Diwali. The National Green Tribunal banned the sale of all types of firecrackers in any district with AQI above 201. Representative from Kolkata Zonal Centre, CSIR NEERI – “NEERI stamp has been imprinted on the boxes of all green firecrackers, however given the chances of fake QR codes and possibility of duplicacy, we all need to be responsible for our action” He further said “I urge all citizens to check and validate the QR codes printed on boxes of green firecrackers by using their smartphones and only buy the genuine green crackers that have passed emission tests. The QR code scan should produce certificate given by NEERI”
As part of the initiative, several schools took part in it with various activities being organized; like sit and draw competition among school students based on the theme of ‘Smoke Free Diwali.’ They also took part in making rangoli, posters making competitions based on the theme and were awarded prizes for the various innovation demonstrations.
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