92% citizens say that they would fully support the no-sound cracker ban after 10pm

October 27th, 2016, New Delhi: With India’s biggest festival Diwali fast approaching, the big question stands in front of us again – crackers or no crackers! While some say that bursting crackers is a part of the age old tradition, many have been advocating against it due to the strong reasons of pain and agony it causes to the environment, animals and the elderly. The air quality in many major cities of India has already declined with cities such as Delhi in deep red colur per global air quality standards.

LocalCircles, India’s leading community engagement platform decided to raise the issue of ‘No-sound crackers after 10pm’ in some of its communities and conducted a poll to understand what percentage of people would support it. The results were not surprising. In a poll where more than 8000 citizens participated, as many as 92% citizens said that there should be a ban on sound crackers after 10pm.

Citizens feel that the sound emitting crackers cause a lot of pollution as well as cause much discomfort to those living in the area. Below are the poll details and collective citizen recommendations on the subject.

#Poll question

Citizen inputs on what can be done to implement the no-sound crackers after 10pm ban:

1. 1. The no-sound 10pm cracker ban should be imposed not only for Diwali but also for marriages and functions throughout the year
2. 2. Municipalities via Ward Councillors and in turn through RWAs should initiate a vigorous awareness campaign in their area
3. 3. Ads should also be done through TV, radio and newspapers so that the message could reach maximum number of people
4. 4. Residents Associations should strictly impose the judgement and act against the members who violates the condition
5. 5. RWA's/Societies must keep a watch and depute observers in each pocket, who should than report to the law agencies
6. 6. An on-spot fine of at least Rs.5000 should be imposed for a violation
7. 7. Involve school children going from house to house in their localities appealing to people to comply with the Hon’ble Supreme Court's order
8. 8. Radio and TV announcements may also be made to this effect on few days prior to Diwali nights
9. 9. City Government should advertise in various local media regarding supreme court orders
10. 10. Utilize various local circles to communicate/outreach citizens and create awareness about the rule
11. 11. Police should set up teams to patrol the residential areas and nab the people burning sound making crackers after 10pm
12. 12. Police, home guards, municipal workers should be empowered to collect heavy fines for sound emitting crackers after 10 PM
13. 13. In schools and colleges, the teachers should announce the supreme court order to all students, who are primarily involved in bursting sound crackers
14. 14. They could give a complaint line numbers of the police who can be contacted by neighbours, passer by public where the ban is not followed
15. 15. Parents should also instruct their children to finish burning crackers by 10pm
16. 16. Municipal bodies should arrange for public announcement of this information