Minister for primary and secondary education, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has also appealed to schools across the city to promote anti-noise pollution cause.
In a bid to get Bangaloreans to not burst crackers this Diwali, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Tuesday launched a massive campaign appealing citizens to celebrate Diwali sans any firework.
“There is noise all the time from loud speakers and constant honking of horns during traffic hours; now, crackers can be added to that mix. Therefore, we have a series of programmes to educate people and urging to not burst crackers,” said Vaman Acharya, chairman of KSPCB.
According to the KSPCB, bursting of crackers increases the level of sulphur dioxide 200 times above the safety limits prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Acharya noted that the gaseous air pollutants, along with other noxious gases emitted during Diwali, aggravate the risk of triggering an attack in three crore asthmatics in India and also has the potential to cause new cases of asthma.
H Maheshappa, vice-chancellor, Visvesvaraya Technological University, who also attended the launch, said students studying in VTU will take part in the campaign and do their bit to keep the
festival a little more smoke-free.
“Students are the best ambassadors for such causes and even last year we had a similar programme. This year, we will have students taking an oath that they will refrain from bursting crackers. Also, around November 5 or 6, there will be a walkathon that will try and publicise this message further. Lakhs of rupees are wasted each year just on crackers,” he said.
Dr K Bhujang Shetty, chairman of Narayana Nethralaya, said there are 400-500 injuries every year because of bursting of crackers. He said 90% of them are minor. “Last year, about 70 patients were admitted to Narayana Nethralaya directly in connection with crackers and a couple of them actually resulted in permanent blindness,” he said.
Minister for primary and secondary education, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has also appealed to schools across the city to promote this cause.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}