In order to prevent noise pollution during the Diwali festival from disrupting the lives of wild animals and causing them unnecessary stress, the Forest Department has issued guidelines to its staff directing it to take measures for preventing noise pollution generated by fireworks near protected forest areas during the festival.
It is pertinent to mention here that with rising human population, the noise pollution during Diwali too has increased substantially.
The noise generated by bursting of fireworks in areas around forests causes stress on the wildlife and causes disruption.
Such disturbance, in some cases can also cause the traumatised wild animal to act in a manner which might be detrimental to humans in the vicinity.
According to the chief conservator of forests, Wildlife, Administration and Intelligence, Shashi Kumar Dutt, guidelines have been issued to officers in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and divisions especially in areas with healthy wildlife population.
“Noise generation is prohibited near national parks but when it comes to areas around other forest areas, we can only request the pubic to refrain from generating noise pollution by bursting noisy crackers.”
Regarding whether the ongoing strike of forest guards and subordinate forest staff is affecting wildlife protection and management in the State he said, “The department is experiencing stress due to the strike but we have deployed our second line of staff to overcome this problem.” Considering the fact that Diwali is also said to be a time preferred by trappers and poachers, the department has already issued a red-alert in the State.
However, wildlife activists believe that such guidelines and red-alerts are mere formalities because so far the forest department has not proved itself capable of enforcing such decisions. It is difficult to prevent noise pollution in forest fringe areas simply by requesting people to abstain from bursting noisy crackers, they point out.