SResidents, corporate employees and volunteers of social organisations in Gurugram on Sunday launched a campaign to persuade the people to observe ‘green’ Deepawali and shun the use of crackers. They also distributed plants to the people at various places in Gurugram.
Holding placards bearing the slogan, “Plant a Tree this Deepwali, Say No to Crackers”, the volunteers spread the message of ‘green’ Deepawali at three places — Good Earth Mall, Arcadia Traffic Crossing and B and C Blocks of South City Phase 2 on Sunday.
The campaign would span over three days, till Tuesday, a day before the festival of lights Deepawali, which is being celebrated across the country on Wednesday, November 7.
Brain Tik, a visitor from Canada who is on a leisure trip to India, said that Deepawali was a few days away but the pollution in the air was already making it difficult for the people to breathe. “The air quality level would get even worse by Deepawali when people burst firecrackers. I am worried about that day. People should restrict the use of firecrackers,” he said and lauded the efforts of spreading the message.
“We received overwhelming response from the people who pledged to observe ‘green’ Deepawali and avoid the use of firecrackers. They happily accepted tree saplings and promised to grow them in their balconies at their homes. Such efforts would help reduce air pollution level making us to breathe easy,” said Jagdish Kukreja, the president of Socio-Motto.