GUWAHATI, Nov 14 - Diwali, the festival of lights and Kali Puja were celebrated tonight in a low-key and restrained manner in the city and across the State.
The celebrations were largely confined to illumination of households and office establishments. However, some places in the city witnessed bursting of crackers despite a ban imposed by the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA).
Some roadside stalls were also seen dealing in firecrackers even though the administration claimed that drives were carried out across the State. Some unscrupulous elements were reportedly indulging in home delivery of firecrackers in the city.
However, the overall Diwali celebration in the city was largely marked by absence of noise unlike in the previous years.
�The ban on firecrackers is in place and it is the duty of the administration to crack down on those selling them. But bursting of crackers was heard since evening, even though much less than previous years. The pollution data will be known after we get the reports from the stations,� a PCBA official said.
Shops, which had old stock of crackers, also sold them clandestinely.
In a bid to promote eco-friendly Diwali, Guwahati Press Club today distributed earthen lamps prepared by an NGO named Sahayika Sishu Nirdeshan Kendra, among media houses.
Following an order by NGT, PCBA has banned all kinds of crackers in Guwahati and has allowed only green crackers in other places of the State.
Governor Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal have earlier appealed for a green and noise-free Diwali.
