Restrict bursting of crackers to maximum extent possible:TNPCB

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board today urged the public to "restrict" bursting of crackers to the "maximum extent possible" on Diwali day tomorrow as prevailing climatic conditions "are not conducive."
Various parts of the state, including this city have been receiving rainfall since Monday besides Chennai witnessing cloudy skies.
"In view of the prevailing climatic condition and weather forecast made for the next two days, it is obvious that the conditions are not conducive for normal dispersion of smoke and particulate matter in view of possible inversion," a TNPCB release said.
According to the Regional Meteorological Office, rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at a few places over Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry tomorrow and day after.

TNPCB said there would be no proper dispersion of smoke and this would in turn increase ground level concentration of pollutants, resulting in respiratory problems, wheezing, throat irritation, lung infection "and in general drastically affect the public health."
"Trapping of pollutants under same conditions result in the formation of smog. The firecrackers release pollutants and generate noise in the ambient air which has adverse impact on the general health of the living beings residing in the area," the release added.
Hence TNPCB "makes a sincere appeal to public to restrict the bursting of crackers to the maximum extent possible to minimise the adverse impact on the environment due to the Deepavali celebrations," it said.