Environmental and noise pollution should be a matter of concern to all. The Goa Government needs to totally ban firecrackers and all fireworks in the best interest of protecting the Health of the people from air and noise pollution. They cause serious air pollution, produce a lot of garbage and noise, and is a huge disturbance especially for the children and the elderly. They can cause distress, especially as fireworks can sound like gunfire and can aggravate a nervous condition.
Firecrackers are in fact a waste of money. At a time of a raging pandemic and the crashing economy where every paisa matters, we all have a serious responsibility as a State and as individuals to get our priorities right.
The adverse effects of fireworks on people, animals and property must not be underestimated. They contain chemical components like saltpetre, carbon and sulphur. Medical experts state that the air gets contaminated with toxic gases and remains for days.
The sparkles from fireworks may last a few seconds but the hazardous toxic air pollution can linger in our environment, towns and cities for many hours. Such a short-lived entertainment does not justify the immediate and long term damage to our health, wealth and environment.
Once a total ban on firecrackers and fireworks is in place, there should be very rigorous enforcement. People acting in violation should be severely penalized so that it acts as a deterrent to all. Let us hope and pray that in these troubled and challenging times, common sense will prevail and that fireworks will be banned by the Government for the common good so we can all focus on our one and only priority of fighting the virus and ending the pandemic.
AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar
