Quieter and Cleaner Diwali is on cards for Telangana

All over India preparations have started to celebrate Diwali on a bigger note. This Diwali for Hyderabad residents will be quieter and cleaner compared to previous year. After formation of the state, the Pollution Control Board(PCB) insisted that firecracker traders take steps to curb sound and air pollution during Diwali. The government issued guidelines in 2006 by amending Environment Protection Rules, 1999 to ban or use of firecrackers generating noise levels exceeding 125 decibels. This time Telangana traders and dealers held a series of discussions with manufacturers of crackers in Sivakasi in this regard. They decided to procure material from recognized manufacturers to comply with Noise and Sound level requirements as per law. “This time about 90 per cent of firecrackers will meet the standards and the rest is from unauthorized or illegal manufacturers. Consumers are also demanding less smoke and less sound,” Association of Telangana Fireworks Dealers president Jonnada Manik Rao said. The Association of Telangana Fireworks Dealers has formed a special team to prevent the sale of China made crackers as the center has banned China made crackers for violating the Explosives Rules, 2008 and the Environmental Protection Rules, 1999.