In an email to Delhi’s Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, the health minister has urged the former to ensure that national capital celebrate a ‘silent Diwali’ this year.
While citing the July 2005 Supreme Court order, the minister in his email said, ‘Noise-pollution free Diwalis are fast becoming the norm in many parts of the country. A Supreme Court order of July 2005 had banned the bursting of fire crackers in residential areas.’ Slamming Delhi for not complying with the order of apex court, the minister further stated, ‘Implementation of the apex court’s order has been practically absent in Delhi. Some state governments have been quite successful in ensuring quietness in the revelries. I hope under your direction, Delhi will turn a corner from this Diwali onwards.’
The health minister unequivocally also rejected the apologies given by the government by saying, ‘Many excuses have been offered by administrations of the past for Delhi’s general disregard (of the Supreme Court’s order). The reasons advanced vary from ‘cultural’ to ‘police insufficiency’. These are all unacceptable.’
The minister, who has already announced that he is in the process of constituting an expert group to recommend nation-wide measures to prevent noise pollution, recalled ‘progressive governments cannot reconcile cultural sentiments with the suffering of people, especially children and old people.’
Pointing out to the L-G, Vardhan said, ‘Firecrackers which sell under a variety of names lead to noise pollution which causes many physical diseases for people of all age groups. Small children and senior children are traumatised the most during the Diwali.’
Hailing the move of Vardhan, animal activist Arpan Sharma said, ‘This is a very good step. If implemented, it will help a lot in saving the lives of animals too as due to heavy noise, pets get disoriented and traumatised.’
While citing the July 2005 Supreme Court order, the minister in his email said, ‘Noise-pollution free Diwalis are fast becoming the norm in many parts of the country. A Supreme Court order of July 2005 had banned the bursting of fire crackers in residential areas.’ Slamming Delhi for not complying with the order of apex court, the minister further stated, ‘Implementation of the apex court’s order has been practically absent in Delhi. Some state governments have been quite successful in ensuring quietness in the revelries. I hope under your direction, Delhi will turn a corner from this Diwali onwards.’
The health minister unequivocally also rejected the apologies given by the government by saying, ‘Many excuses have been offered by administrations of the past for Delhi’s general disregard (of the Supreme Court’s order). The reasons advanced vary from ‘cultural’ to ‘police insufficiency’. These are all unacceptable.’
The minister, who has already announced that he is in the process of constituting an expert group to recommend nation-wide measures to prevent noise pollution, recalled ‘progressive governments cannot reconcile cultural sentiments with the suffering of people, especially children and old people.’
Pointing out to the L-G, Vardhan said, ‘Firecrackers which sell under a variety of names lead to noise pollution which causes many physical diseases for people of all age groups. Small children and senior children are traumatised the most during the Diwali.’
Hailing the move of Vardhan, animal activist Arpan Sharma said, ‘This is a very good step. If implemented, it will help a lot in saving the lives of animals too as due to heavy noise, pets get disoriented and traumatised.’