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PPCB for green Diwali

With stubble-burning causing damage to the environment, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) chairman Kahan Singh Pannu today appealed to people to celebrate Green Diwali, warning them the air quality in the state would deteriorate.

On the eve of Diwali, the Ambient Air Quality (AQI) has already crossed the 290 respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) mark. The safe limit of the AQI is up to 100. The worsening AQI is on account of 2,100 cases of farm fires this paddy season that started almost 15 days ago. As per the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order, the state has been imposing penalty on erring farmers. But it has failed to curb the practice.

Pannu fears the AQI on Diwali night is likely to reach the 500 mark, which could create respiratory problems, even for healthy people. The PPCB has already written to all police chiefs and Deputy Commissioners to ensure that no one is allowed to burst crackers after the stipulated time and strict action should be taken against violators.