Maharashtra CM appeals for celebrating pollution-free, environ-friendly Diwali

Mumbai, Nov 1: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis on Thursday appealed to the citizens and children in the state to celebrate pollution-free and environment-friendly Diwali this year. He was speaking as chief guest at the ‘Pollution-free Diwali Sankalp Abhiyan’ program organized by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Environment Department at Mantralaya today.

Fadanvis said that last year there were less number of crackers used resulting in decrease in pollution in Mumbai and the state. The school students took active part in this. Recently, there is a better awareness about environment and pollution among the children and they take initiative to tell their parents, relatives and friends to use low sound crackers. This year also they should celebrate Diwali with low sound crackers, Fadanvis appealed to students and citizens, underlining the importance of pollution-free and environment-friendly Diwali.

He further said that the people of the state have responded well to ban on plastic. The environment department is working to implementing campaigns to check sound pollution, have cracker-less Diwali, and make plastic-free Maharashtra, the Chief Minister said and appealed to the people to participate in all these campaigns to make the state pollution – free and environment-friendly.

Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam said that Mumbai and some parts of the state are facing threat of air pollution and we are responsible for this. If we celebrate environment-friendly festivals and events that will save the air from getting polluted, he said. The coming Diwali should be celebrated by shunning crackers and avoiding pollution. He appealed to the children to use low sound crackers during Diwali should they want to burst crackers during the festival of lights.

The Chief Minister released the first ever in the country Diwali issue in Brail prepared by the Divyang (blind) children. He also administered oath to children to avoid use of plastic and celebrate Diwali sans crackers to avoid pollution.

The introductory remarks were made by Member Secretary of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board E Ravindran. He gave information about how to celebrate pollution-free Diwali. The program was attended by PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Babanrao Lonikar, Protocol Minister Ram Shinde, Animal Husbandry Minsiter Mahadev Jankar, MoS Environment Pravin Pote-Patil, CM’s Additional Chief Secretary Pravin Pardeshi, Principal Secretary of Environment Department Anil Diggikar and others.