Kerala State Pollution Control Board to give awareness classes on air and noise pollution to school students

Over the years, it has been seen that the festivities ultimately led to an increase in the levels of air and noise pollution. With different types of crackers being manufactured for the festivities, the level of air pollution caused is extremely high which makes the air unsuitable to breathe and the noise intolerable. With the festive season of Diwali and Christmas around the corner, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board is gearing up to give awareness classes to school students across the state regarding noise and air pollution.

The order of the Supreme Court that comes just some weeks before Diwali has put a ban on the sale of crackers via online portals. The order also says that on Diwali the citizens will be allowed to burst crackers between only between 8 pm and 10 pm while on Christmas and the New Year's Eve the designated time is between 11.55 pm and 12.30 am. “ We appreciate the order of the Supreme Court and will be following the guidelines given by the court. The first part of the order will be followed by checking the air quality before and after Diwali,” said K Sajeevan, chairman of Kerala State Pollution Control Board.

To spread awareness about the rising levels of air pollution among school children, KSPCB has also planned to screen a short film on air pollution in all the schools in the state. Sajeevan also said that more public awareness should be given regarding the guidelines given by the Supreme Court so that people avoid buying highly polluting firecrackers and stick to the use of 'green' firecrackers which are less polluting in nature.

All the State Pollution Control Boards and the Central Pollution Boards will also be measuring the particulate matters (PM) 2.5 and 10 in the air seven days ahead of Diwali and seven days after Diwali. “ As part of the order, we will be checking the air quality in all areas. Our request is to reduce the use of noise creating firecrackers to using colour emitting firecrackers. The Department of Explosives will check the composition of these firecrackers,” said Sajeevan.

Norms by the Court

1. Firecrackers will be allowed to burst crackers between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali and on Christmas and New Year's Eve between 11.55 pm and 12.30 am.

2. Only the crackers that are within noise pollution limits set in an earlier verdict will be allowed and the sale of ' chain firecrackers ' is completely banned.

3. The sale of crackers via online portals has also been banned.

4. Only 'safe and green' crackers that produce less pollution will be allowed. The sale of other crackers has been completely banned.

5. The sale of green and improved crackers can be done only through licensed traders.