Gurgaon: RWAs to advise residents against bursting crackers

RWA members said they will encourage residents to celebrate a noise-free Diwali with sweets

Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Gurgaon will issue advisory on the bursting of crackers inside residential and condominium complexes in the light of the Supreme Court order, banning cracker sale in Delhi/NCR this Diwali. Executive members of RWAs said that they will study the apex court order and take appropriate action within a week.

Executive members of RWAs said that they will study the apex court order on crackers and take appropriate action within a week. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

RWA’s are already doing their bit in ensuring an eco-friendly Diwali this year by encouraging residents to take part in rangoli and diya (earthen lamp) making competition.

Several RWA members have already issued circulars in their condominiums and have requested residents to say no to crackers.

“We had already sent messages to residents last week that we should not burst crackers, as it pollutes the environment and risks health. We will celebrate the festival with lights and sweets instead,” Vikas Bansal, general secretary, RWA, Sector 37C, Taksila Heights, said.

RWA members said though the Supreme Court has banned the sale of crackers in Delhi/NCR, it would have been better had the ban been extended to bursting of crackers as well.

“While most residents at Fresco Apartments are against bursting of crackers and are concerned over the environmental impact of the same, some want to continue lighting crackers. We will take a call soon as in the absence of any restriction by the government, we cannot stop residents from bursting crackers if they wish to do so. Children and senior citizens are trying their best to convince those who support bursting of crackers to give it up,” Nilesh Tandon, president, RWA Fresco Apartments, said.

“We have a meeting of members on Tuesday morning and will ensure all residents comply with the apex court order. We were already planning to launch a campaign in our society to spread the message, ‘No Crackers.’ This order has only helped our cause. Many residents are fond of lighting crackers on Diwali, but we hope they will refrain from doing so in the light of the Supreme Court judgment,” Rajeev Sinha, president, RWA, Essel Towers, said.

Read I Pollution watchdog calls for Diwali without crackers

Residents of Heritage City on MG Road have been pushing the RWA to ban the bursting of crackers and they have even moved a petition in that regard.

“We are getting a good response and all residents have signed the petition to submit to the RWA. We have few people, including elders, who feel there is no Diwali without crackers. We are in the process of convincing them to celebrate Diwali sans crackers,” Hanumant Talwar, a resident of Heritage City, said.

Several other RWAs are planning to start campaigns in order to encourage residents to boycott fireworks.

VMK Singh, general secretary, Suncity Township, said, “We will engage children of our township in this cause and have decided to reward those who encourage others to give up crackers and help reduce pollution.”

Some societies have planned musical events, asking residents to invite friends and relatives to celebrate a cracker-less Festival of Lights in their condominiums. They have also organised bonfire, games and food stalls as part of the celebration.