National
Delhi gears up for less noisy, less toxic Diwali
New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS) It is expected to be a less noisy and less toxic Diwali this year after the Supreme Court imposed a ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi and the NCR. While some people claim to have found different ways to get firecrackers through door step deliveries by traders and also online purchases, some seem to have got the message to celebrate the festival without adding to the already alarming air pollution levels in the capital.
Many fire cracker lovers IANS spoke with on Diwali eve said they struggled in sourcing them but eventually managed to get crackers either online or bought them from other places close to the NCR.
Despite reports about an upswing in the black market of crackers, one of the traders approached by an IANS correspondent simply refused to deliver any products but said people were welcome to come and buy on November 1 — by when the Supreme Court ban will be over.
“I am sorry. I can’t help you with it because of the Supreme Court ban. You can surely come and buy on November 1 and after that,” the trader told IANS.
Amit, 42, from Ajit Fireworks near Jama Masjid, said he was getting calls from a lot of people, especially kids, requesting for some crackers, but they were simply told – “No, you will have to wait till the end of this month.”
“It is certainly difficult to explain it to the kids. I am trying to convince them like their parents must be doing,” he said.
Others in the market, he said, had switched off their phones to avoid calls from buyers.
Amit said his own children and family were using some of the previous stock he had accumulated for Diwali sale. “Our kids will be bursting some. We are distributing the rest among our relatives.”
The Supreme Court on October 9 banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and NCR till November 1 to curb rising pollution levels during Diwali.
Delhi Police said it seized over 1,200 kg firecrackers and arrested 29 people for selling firecrackers illegally in the capital.
Last year on Diwali, PM2.5 levels in some areas of Delhi increased to 1,238. The World Health Organization recommends that PM2.5 is kept below 10 as an annual average, as exposure to average annual concentrations of PM2.5 of 35 or above is associated with a 15 per cent higher long-term mortality risk.
Delhi and NCR are one of the worst polluted regions in the world, with an annual average PM2.5 measurement of 122. On Tuesday, average air-quality index reading for Delhi was said to be “very poor” and “severe”, amid apprehensions that firecrackers on Diwali would further worsen the air quality.
But for many Diwali is all about fireworks.
“We have made arrangements in our society and somehow made it available to everybody in our area,” said Pramod Shah, 51, an east Delhi resident.
Anmol Agrawal, 22, a Saket resident, said: “Those who are desperate to burst crackers and cause pollution must be making arrangements from somewhere or the other. If not from Delhi, they can certainly source them from nearby cities in other places beyond NCR.
“I support a pollution free Diwali…won’t be sourcing crackers from anywhere,” she said.
Vikrant Tongad, an environmentalist with Social Action for Forest and Environment (SAFE) NGO, said the Supreme Court order would “surely” help in preventing further deterioration of air quality in Delhi and NCR. But expecting a noise-free Diwali was asking for too much.
“The Supreme Court ban will help. Crackers are not easily accessible. It is good. But the problem is larger. It will be less toxic and less noisy but not a completely a cracker-free Diwali,” Tongad said.
–IANS
mg-sar/rn
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
