Diwali — the festival of lights — has turned into a “festival of air-pollution” that not only damage alveoli in the lungs, but send levels of sulphur di-oxide and nitrogen di-oxide and the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) soaring in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla and other towns, pushing air-pollution level beyond 126 microgram per cubic mtr.

This level, say scientists, is much higher than the permissible limits of 100 microgram per cubic mtr benchmarked by the Central Pollution Control Board (CBCB).

Scientists and environmentalists assert that at the eve of “festival of lights”, all Himalayan state governments should join hands, making the region an abode of “crackers-free Diwali”.

The study conducted by the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED), Mohal in Kullu and Kothi, a village 8 km uphill from the tourist town of Manali, paints a grim picture of air-pollution in the Kullu Valley.

“This becomes more harmful during Diwali as bursting of crackers adds hazardous gases in the atmosphere,” observed Dr JC Kuniyal, a senior scientist at the GBPIHED.

The scientists said the CPCB benchmark had fixed 100 micrograms per cubic mtr as permissible limit and the level beyond this was hazardous for human health. “We inhale 126 microns of pollution by inhaling one cubic mtr of air. It damages the alveoli in lungs and causes cancer. Smaller the size, more hazardous these are for human beings and plants,” scientists warned.

Besides, bursting of crackers had triggered the worst fire in the past that gutted dozens of shops on the Mall, Sanjauli and other places. Crackers had also resulted in forest fires and burning of the day grass lands across the state, increasing temperature and aerosols, scientists cautioned.

Abhishek Rai, president, Himalayan Environment Protection Society, said they had been protesting and writing letters to the government to ban crackers in the state, but nothing had happened.

The state government banned polythene bags in the state that evoked good response. But neither the State Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board(SEPPCB), nor the Department of Environment, Science and Technology, have ever bothered to make environment-friendly Diwali in Himachal, he added.