GUWAHATI, Nov 9 - The Eco Tourism Society of North East will carry out a massive awareness drive in the schools and public offices of the North East regarding celebration of an eco-friendly Diwali.
Members of the society will visit schools and offices to make people aware regarding eco-friendly Diwali celebration. The NGO will also carry out the awareness campaign through social networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter, etc.
�The electric lighting looks fabulous, but there is no comparison to the age-old diyas. The additional benefit of these diyas is that they are biodegradable, cost effective and still look traditional and very attractive,� said Gautam Dutta, president of the society.
Instead of the traditional crackers, the society has urged people to opt for eco-friendly products that are made from recycled papers and the noise produced is within the decibel limits set by the Central Pollution Control Board.
One can also buy such crackers from Barpeta, which are manufactured locally and are also eco-friendly, he said.
�Apartments in Guwahati can go for community cracker show which is a smart initiative,� said Dutta, adding that all available crackers contain toxic substances, like copper, cadmium, lead, magnesium, zinc, sodium, etc. These toxic substances are not just harmful to human beings, but to all living creatures. They tend to remain in the atmosphere for extended periods. So their harmful effects are experienced long after Diwali celebrations are over.
District admin plea: Meanwhile, the Kamrup Metro district administration has appealed to the people to celebrate the festival with safety and utmost care. In an official statement, it appealed to the people not to burst firecrackers on the roads and pavements.
The administration also urged the people not to disturb others by bursting firecrackers during late night, asking them to follow the norms set by the Pollution Control Board.
