Even as the Mysuru district administration has issued guidelines to the public on bursting crackers, a team of government officials has been constituted to check if crackers sold in the city are within sound limits specified by the Centre’s Environment (Protection) Act.
The team, comprising three officials from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), two officials from Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), and one official from the city police, will be visiting firecracker shops across the city from Wednesday. Their job is to ensure that crackers do not emit sound levels in excess of 125 decibels. If the team receives any complaints or suspects that a particular cracker emits more than the specified sound levels, samples of the cracker will be seized and tested in an open area and the sound levels will be measured. Action will be taken against the seller and the manufacturer if the sound emitted exceeds 125 decibels as per the rules formulated under the amended Environment (Protection) Act 1999 and 2000.
Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep has also appealed to the public against bursting crackers that emit more than the stipulated sound norms. The sound limit of even garland crackers should not cross the limit. Also, bursting and sale of crackers after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m. is prohibited as per a Supreme Court order. He has urged the people to identify an uninhabited place to burst crackers together. The district administration has prohibited sale of crackers on school premises, residential areas, and industrial areas.
Meanwhile, the KSPCB officials held street plays in different parts of the district on Tuesday to create awareness among the children against bursting crackers. “We tried to educate the children that it was better to light a lamp and celebrate Deepavali. Instead of spending money on crackers, the same money can be used for buying books or clothes,” an official, who participated in the awareness programme, told The Hindu .
The Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum carried out a campaign against bursting of crackers. A pamphlet brought by the Forum on the occasion said more than 1,200 persons had suffered injuries during bursting of crackers in Bengaluru during the last ten years and 70 of the injuries were caused to the eye.
