CHENNAI: A sustained campaign over the last six years on exercise of awareness during Bhogi celebrations has registered a significant reduction in smog on the Bhogi day in 2006.

International and national flights, which usually get cancelled owing to the smog, took off on schedule on Bhogi day, say Pollution Control Board officials.

However, despite the general increase in awareness, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has initiated a campaign for a pollution-free Bhogi on January 14.

The Environment Protection Act, 1986, Section 15, says that any person, who causes air pollution, will be liable for penal action. Earlier, the Madras High Court had also issued an order restraining the burning of different kinds of waste on Bhogi day, on a petition filed by Exnora International.

Synthetic materials

A TNPCB statement on Tuesday said that burning of synthetic materials such as tyres, plastics, unwanted household articles, let out noxious gases including carbon monoxide, dioxins, furans and particulate matter. The exposure to such materials caused irritation of eyes, nose, throat, skin, respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and other health disorders.

This year too, the TNPCB, along with civic and police agencies would jointly campaign in the city from January 11 to 13 to propagate the message of controlling air pollution during Bhogi.

Pamphlets, handbills containing the ill effects on health owing to burning of tyres, plastics and other discarded items, would be distributed to the public.

The agencies would also move around the city on January 13 and 14 to stop burning of such materials.