Health minister Harsh Vardhan advocates for a silent Diwali in Capital

NEW DELHI: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan sent out a loud message in favour of a "silent Diwali" in the Capital this year as he urged L-G Najeeb Jung to take up the cudgels against noise pollution caused by firecrackers. Diwali falls on October 23.

Referring to the success of other state governments in this regard, Vardhan said that Delhi's administration could no longer afford the excuse of respecting cultural sentiments for its inability to curb noise pollution. He urged Jung to implement the ban on firecrackers in residential areas as mandated by the Supreme Court in 2005. SC order also bans the bursting of loud firecrackers between 10 pm and 6 am. Noise pollution levels on Diwali in Delhi have been increasing every year despite the apex court order.

"As a practising ENT surgeon, over the years, I have seen a lot of people suffer on Diwali. I see many cases of perforated ear drums and burn injuries. How can a progressive government reconcile cultural sentiments with people's suffering?" he told ET.

"I am not asking people to stop celebrating this festival. But I don't think people can use the cultural argument to justify use of loud firecrackers," he said. "Bursting loud crackers is not a part of our culture. It's just a practice which needs to be discontinued."

"I think the administration should convene a meeting of resident welfare association representatives at the earliest and apprise them of the intolerance of the administration towards those who burst crackers. A special helpline should also be opened to facilitate quick response in the event of violations," he said in his email to L-G.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay told ET: "If there is a way to celebrate a festival traditionally and also ensure it doesn't hurt the environment, then we are for it." Santosh Desai, MD and CEO of Future brands India, said a ban may not be the most effective way of ensuring a muted Diwali.