AURANGABAD: City-based NGO, Prayas Youth Foundation, has decided to celebrate environment-friendly Diwali by planting saplings on the Goga baba Tekdi and shun firecrackers. Recently, the group adopted the Goga Baba Tekdi to make it green and clean.

Ravi Chowdhary, the member of the group, appealed people to avoid buying firecrackers and enjoy the festival in an eco-friendly way. The group will be planting at least 50-60 saplings on the Goga Baba Tekdi from the money saved from firecrackers.

"From this year on the Konkan Mitra Mandal has also joined our campaign," he said, adding, "The group has also spread awareness about the pollution-free celebrations through its website - www.prayasgroup.org."

"For most people lighting firecrackers is the highlight of Diwali. But little do people realise that in our increasingly populated and polluted cities, the temporary joy of watching the firecrackers is soon replaced by the intense air pollution caused by them. The toxic substances used in the firecrackers release toxic gases that are harmful to the health of all. The high level of sound generated by the crackers also cause immense suffering to birds and animals, besides the sick and the ailing," said members Pritesh Gavas, Sumit Deshmukh, Prakash Kulkarni, Wasim Syed, Sumit Sahu, Walmiki Chaudhary, Kulbhushan Bomble, Sheetal Shelke, Sapna Kulkarni and Ruchita Wazurkar.