Kolkata, Oct 24 (FN Agency) Several of the city’s Leading Doctors, Medical Associations and Environmental Experts part of the Bengal Clean Air Network (Bengal-CAN) under the aegis of SwitchON Foundation, have collectively submitted a letter to the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the need for a safer and cleaner festive season. The letter sent to the chief minister has requested a complete ban on firecrackers like last year, since quality of air really starts deteriorating after the firecracker diwali until tuesday where cities and towns across West bengal become a gas chamber. The letter also raises the issue of the COVID – 19 pandemic and henceforth, the steady rise in cases which was noticed. Studies have shown the rise mentioned above to be directly linked to the rise in the level of pollutants in the air.
The signatories offered support on their part to the administration, at generating awareness about pollution caused by air pollution amidst fellow citizens. The upcoming winters pose a problem in West Bengal and hence, there is a necessity for a pollution-free Diwali celebration this year round. The letter was also signed by doctors from Association of Radiation Oncologists of India, Society of Emergency Medicine India, South Asian Medical Students Association, and other leading NGOs like SwitchON Foundation, Greenpeace, Rainforest Alliance, TSHED, Y-East etc. who have come forth and added their valuable suggestions on best ways to transform this festive season into a memorable one, without having anyone face the aftermath of respiratory diseases usually following the festive season just after Diwali. Suman Mallik, Vice President AROI, also a signatory of the letter said, “The extensive use of firecrackers during Diwali festival leads to 5 to 20 times increase in air pollutants, and since they are associated with serious adverse health impacts, the use of fireworks during in this kind of festival in a highly populated city like Kolkata needs to be controlled.
Diwali should show us the lights for a better and healthy future.” Vinay Jaju, MD of SwitchON Foundation and Convenor of Bengal-CAN said “As concerned citizens, we have urged the Chief Minister to ban firecrackers completely as was done last year. Burning crackers incessantly make air quality very poor and lead us to an irreversible scenario of polluted air through winter – severely impacting the health of children, elderly and vulnerable.” Further, studies released have also clearly stated that even a single point rise in the level of air pollution can easily help in the rise of COVID 19 cases by 6-7%. Studies therefore, support that air pollution and COVID are intrinsically linked with 15% COVID 19 deaths being aggravated with pollution in place worldwide. In 2018 the Supreme Court Directed the Centre that the sale and manufacturing of firecrackers be banned completely which was implemented in states like Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Delhi, Haryana,Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh last year. This move was a good effort to bring down air pollution levels in the respective cities and contain COVID infection spread. Therefore, it is high time we make the switch to a celebration which is sustainable in nature, which makes a complete ban on crackers as the way forward. Dr. Soirindhri Banerjee. M.D. Resident, Dept. Of Radiation Oncology, IPGMER & SSKM HOSPITAL who is a signatory said,” It is extremely important to recognise the potential of smoke and suspended smog as significant worsening factors of respiratory infections. As festivities continue, we urge all to celebrate with lights and lamps and consciously curb the use of firecrackers to control air pollution.”
Quoting Dr.Arup Haldar, Consultant Pulmonologist, Columbia Asia & Woodlands Hospitals, who is also a signatory , “More careful approach is warranted from the administrative side to reduce the ambient air pollution in the coming winter. The dual enemies of Air pollution and COVID-19 may cause havoc to human lungs,”. The letter also stressed on the fact that if the ban is implemented it would lead to the reduction in the level of not just air but sound pollution as well, bringing pollution levels down drastically. A chain reaction will therefore be developed eventually, ultimately leading to a much more sustainable Diwali. Many doctors and politicians have advised the countrymen to not burst fire crackers this Diwali. SwitchON Foundation too has decided to make sure this pledge is taken into full fledged consideration and has introduced the Virtual Diwali celebration starting from October 26 to 30, 2021, wherein, participants are to register themselves for fun virtual competitions such as poster making, paintings, sketches, poetry writing and writing short stories with exciting sustainable goodies as prize for the winners. Dr Arup Halder, also said, “Last year people showed considerable restraint to burning firecrackers. We hope for such responsibility this year, too. The epidemic is still not over. Every year we encounter extra deaths after Diwali, in patients suffering from chronic lung and heart diseases.
This is largely due to the increased pollution brought in by fire crackers. We need a policy to address this issue”. Dr. Kaustubh Choudhary, Consultant Pediatrician, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals also mentioned how we should stick to no firecrackers. He said, “Last year due to Covid -19 there were restrictions, so that way it was helpful for preventing air pollution, burning firecrackers was also reduced, so in such kind that way, it was helpful in the reduction of the likelihood of dust related or pollution related diseases that have led to exaggeration of Asthma or respiratory problem in the past for his patients. Now it’s quite rampant to have viral affiliated bronchiolitis and if this pollution is added to related issues then it can aggravate the core situation. Therefore possibly we should restrict this time round also.” The letter requests for the steps to be considered : To impose a complete ban on firecrackers during the festivals of Diwali and Kali Puja. With harsh penalties for the violators. This is in line with the Government of West Bengal decision in 2020 and also the supreme court order of 2018 and being implemented by Govt of Delhi every year. To sensitise the mass on the ban of firecrackers through awareness (public addressing system) in digital/ print media/ radio. High-Rise buildings and residential / congested areas are to be given stern warnings to adhere to these regulations as they pose problems of both noise and air pollution. A Police Helpline where citizens can report violations would help enormously.
Maintain strong vigilance on the particular days of celebration in order to ensure adherence to the rules. Markets and retailers selling firecrackers may be subjected to random checks and those selling firecrackers should have their stocks confiscated. Bursting Firecrackers may seem something very trivial, but studies have shown that bursting them are the cause of a significant increase in Air Pollution. It plays a large role in deteriorating air quality post festivals. Levels of Pollution in cities across India have deteriorated to such a level that the area has been referred to as a “Gas Chamber”.Studies have shown that the particulate matter released by firecrackers enter our lungs and bloodstream thus making it extremely dangerous. Air pollution in multiple cities like Kolkata, Howrah, Asansol, Durgapur etc. is one of the worst in the world. It is reported that we are breathing poison and the cities are close to gas chambers every winter worsening every year. The letter to the Chief minister from Bengal Clean Air Network looks at a ban on firecrackers. Through this initiative, children and adults, both alike, are pledging to avoid bursting fire-crackers and placing the immediate need to ban fire-crackers in all of its totality and find better alternatives to celebrate and relish the upcoming festival of light, joy and hope.