AIR QUALITY DIPS IN PUNJAB; CRACKERS NOT LONE CULPRIT

PATIALA: Punjab’s air quality this Diwali was much worse than last year, shows data released by the state’s pollution monitoring agency.

But, if compared to a day before Diwali, the contribution of the festival marked by lights and firecrackers may even have fallen. And the underlying reason — burning of paddy stubble — has also contributed a sig- nificant deal.

Also, Air Quality Index (AQI) on Diwali last year went up from 130 a day before to 228, a 70% jump. This year, Diwali day saw AQI increasing to 328 from 265, an increase by 24%. And, this time on Diwali, the state recorded the highest number of straw-burning cases in a single day, despite a ban by the NGT and the government.

NEWDELHI: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has appealed to the Sikhs in the national capital region( NC R) and adjoining areas not to indulge in fireworks on the occasion of Gurpurb, birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, that falls on November 4 this year.

“Like previous years, we will have cracker-free Gurpurb this year. Festivities will include lighting lamps and helping the poor,” Manjinder Singh Sirsa, spokesperson of SAD and general secretary, DSGMC.

The appeal comes close on the heels of pollution levels soaring across Delhi due to fireworks this Diwali despite a Supreme Court ban on sale of crackers. The community also celebrated Diwa lion Thursday without fireworks, Sirsa, the SAD-BJP MLA from Rajouri Garden said.

For the Sikh community, Diwali assumes significance as it celebrates Ban di Ch hod Div as or ‘Prisoner Release Day’, marking the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru H ar go bind, and 52 others in 1619.

“Apart from appealing to the general public, we will involve schoolchildren to generate awareness on environment and pollution,” he said.