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Majority of working professionals welcome cracker ban in Delhi-NCR: Survey
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SME Times News Bureau | 16 Oct, 2017
The Supreme Court ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR continues to
draw mixed reactions from the general public, though a majority of
working professionals in the region have supported it, a survey report
released on Monday said.
"While there is no doubt about
construction activities, road dust, vehicular pollution, waste burning,
and other such factors being majorly responsible for deteriorating air
quality in and around the city, majority of people in Delhi-National
Capital Region feel that no source of pollution is too small to be
ignored when it comes to public health concerns," the survey conducted
by industry body Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
(Assocham) said.
Assocham's Social Development Foundation (ASDF)
randomly interacted with about 2,000 people in general at entry and exit
points of Delhi metro stations across the city over the last weekend to
ascertain views on the Supreme Court's October 9 order suspending the
sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR, the industry body said in a
statement.
"Banning the sale of firecrackers is a very welcome
move as smoke from fireworks is a common trigger for many individuals
with asthma; many people experience respiratory distress, bronchitis,
persistent cough, burning eyes, itchy throat, and other related
problems," Assocham President Sandeep Jajodia said while releasing the
survey findings.
"Air pollution in Delhi-NCR is not just
devastating the environment but it might also hurt 'brand India' thereby
severely hitting sectors like tourism and outdoor recreation as people
tend to stay away from polluted areas to avoid dense and toxic air," he
said.
Sunshine and good air have become luxury for Delhiities,
who have been dealing with anxieties over pollution, traffic and related
stress, the Assocham President added.
According to the survey
findings, over half of the total respondents (55 per cent) said the ban
in Delhi-NCR must be welcomed, considering the need to avoid a spike in
pollution to hazardous levels even though many of these opined that
effectiveness of the ban remains to be seen.
Of those supporting
the ban, some also said that it is high time that authorities also take
equally stringent steps to curb other factors contributing to air
pollution.
About 35 per cent respondents expressed anguish and
felt that the apex court's ban would mar the festive mood as there has
been a long tradition of lighting fireworks on Diwali, especially in
northern India. Some of them even went on to the extent of terming the
ban ‘unfair'.
Many also said that it would only lead to rise in
discreet sale of firecrackers and said that instead of being selective
only for Diwali, there should be a blanket ban on firecrackers for all
festivals celebrated in Delhi-NCR.
Some respondents said that the
ban is not going to make much difference to air pollution levels and
seemed indifferent about the ban. Many of these said that authorities
should have been considerate about fireworks' manufacturers, traders and
their families.
Many even suggested that industry in India must
come up with green fireworks which are made of special paper and without
sulphur as after being lit they emit less smoke and leave almost no
scrap.
Overall, majority of respondents said they are geared up
for Diwali as they have already purchased face-masks to protect
themselves from toxic air pollution.
There are about 800 licensed
fireworks units in and around Sivakasi town in India's southern state
of Tamil Nadu where this industry accounts for a market size of about Rs
2,500 crore and about 10 lakh workers in both organised and unorganised
sectors.
As per experts, the fireworks industry in India has
been registering de-growth of about 40 per cent annually during the
course of past about five years leading to rapid decline in profit
margins of manufacturers and traders (wholesale and retail) owing to
prevalence of illegally imported Chinese firecrackers, rising prices of
raw material, dearth of labour, restrictions imposed by local
administration, anti-cracker campaigns and other inter-linked factors.
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