While the state environment department chooses to bank upon online awareness mode to minimise fireworks this Diwali, green activists plan to target the high-rises and housing complexes directly to push their ban-baji agenda.

Both insist that considering the Covid-19 situation and warning from the physicians’ fraternity that the situation will deteriorate further if fireworks pollution impacts the already poor air quality of mid-November, the burning of fireworks should stop altogether this Diwali.

“Personally, if you ask me, I am in favour of a ban on baji during Diwali. However, as a petition has been filed in Calcutta high court over the issue, we need to wait for the court’s final verdict. We will do whatever the court will direct,” environment minister Soumen Mahapatra told The Telegraph Salt Lake.

Burning of fireworks leads to the production of gaseous substances like sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen dioxide and the like. While sulphur dioxide irritates the respiratory system, oxides of nitrogen increase oxidative stress and affect the protective mucosal layer of lungs, magnifying the risk of attack from viruses like Sars-CoV-2, say doctors.

The minister further pointed out that his department and the state pollution control board would organise a series of awareness meetings to drive home the importance of bursting little or no fireworks this Diwali. “We will hold separate online awareness meetings with non-government organisations, school students and definitely with representatives of highrises to put across the message. Members of doctors’ forums and police will also participate,” stated the minister.

Sabuj Mancha, a platform of environmental organisations across the state, points out that while spreading awareness is important it is unlikely to cause significant change in habits unless the administration takes strong action against offenders, particularly in the highrises which cause maximum violations.

“Last year, the state PCB found several violations in a number of high-rises and even lodged FIRs against them, including those in the Lake Town area, based on a complaint filed by Sabuj Mancha. But effectively no concrete measures were taken after that. They basically went scot-free,” complained Naba Dutta of the green platform.

While PCB chairman Kalyan Rudra promised to look into the issue of alleged inaction against errant highrises, a senior official pointed out that the onus was on the police to take appropriate action.

In this context, this year Sabuj Mancha has decided to approach the civic authorities and the police to rein in the highrises from bursting fireworks.

“We have already raised the issue of highrises in a recent letter sent to the chief minister. Further to that, we will soon write to the civic authorities in Calcutta, Bidhannagar and South Dum Dum as well as the NKDA along with local police heads, appealing to them to ensure that the experiences of last year do not get repeated,” said Dutta.

Dutta shared that a delegation from the platform would soon meet the minister, state PCB chairman Kalyan Rudra and PCB member secretary Rajesh Kumar to push the demand of completely barring fireworks this Diwali and keep the high rises under strict vigil.