„h Four awareness programmes have been planned

„h Monitoring teams formed to highlight impact of bursting crackers

MINISTER PITCHES IN: The Environment Minister, T.P.M. Mohideen Khan, distributes hand bills to bus passengers while launching an awareness campaign on celebrating pollution-free Deepavali in Chennai on Monday.

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) staff dressed as gypsies greeted Environment Minister T.P.M. Mohideen Khan and then got into the Board's green squad vehicles, when the Minister flagged off the Deepavali Campaign on Monday.

The Minister and officials then went out of the office premises in Guindy and distributed leaflets creating awareness against bursting of crackers with high decibel levels.

They asked the public to create less noise and air pollution this Deepavali.

The Board will be organising a five-day awareness programme till Deepavali. Monitoring teams have been formed.

The teams will render songs, raise slogans, perform skits and distribute handbills to create awareness about noise and air pollution. Four awareness programmes have been planned. The teams would cover the 10 zones of Chennai till October 20. T. Sekar, Member-Secretary, TNPCB, said the Board will monitor the noise level at 17 places and air quality at six places ¡X Kilpauk, Anna Nagar, T. Nagar, Saidapet, Triplicane and Sowcarpet.

District Collectors have been requested to create awareness among public, highlighting the environmental impact of bursting fire crackers through schools, colleges and local bodies.

The police have been asked to ban firecrackers which were above the 125 db `A' level, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Dr. Sekar said that during last Bhogi, effective campaigning by the TNPCB not to burn tyres and mats had paid off. Flights were not delayed at the airport due to the usual smog that formed due to burning of waste.