For quite some long time, i had seen many celebrities & pseudo liberals asking to celebrate Deepavali without crackers. Initially, the logic put forth was it was to stand up against Child Labour. Once that propaganda failed, they started citing environmental concerns with some dubious agenda too joining in their agenda.
Recently the SC has banned sale of Fireworks in Delhi till Nov 1 (notice the timing) & off recent the Chattisgarh govt has banned loud crackers in their state and Maharashtra govt is in talks to bring ban on fireworks in their state too. Do all these bans indeed make any sense?
If the concern is regarding environmental pollution, no, banning fireworks for those 2 days celebrations will hardly alter the situation. Statistically, the top polluted cities in India suffers a lot of pollution from dust pollution on unclean roads/poor infrastructure, pollution caused by various industries in various ways & finally vehicle pollution and if proper attention is given to tackling the same, you would be doing a greater help to the nature instead of banning fireworks for just 2 days. Regarding effects of loud crackers on old people, small kids, etc. Well, i have been always vocal and i still say - I don't agree with bursting too loud crackers in residential areas / roads which will put many to inconvenience but am okay with same being bursted in open/vacant spaces. Burstling harmless and light fireworks near residential spaces hardly does any harm/damage and i dont find any rationale in doing the same.
The bottom line i want to tell is ~ Issue guidelines of having a safe as well as a fun filled Diwali instead of bringing things like blanket ban on crackers. European or American countries don't go on a guilt trip for celebrating Christmas or New Year festivals with fireworks and we Indians too shouldn't go on a guilt trip for celebrating Diwali with fireworks. Ofcourse, for tackling pollution, pay attention on the issues which matters the most for a clean & better environment & implement practical steps towards the same.
Suggested reading:
1. History of Fireworks in India
2. Kiran Sir's blogpost on the same
