TNPCB's Appeal To Public
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has appealed to the public to refrain from burning old materials and cause pollution in the name of celebrating Bhogi, i.e., a day prior to the Pongal festival. The objective behind Bhogi festival was to get rid of old materials so as to begin life with new things when the Tamil month Thai begins. In rural areas, the public used to burn old mats, clothes, broom sticks and agricultural waste and this was not proving to be a problem.But in urban areas, people are resorting to the practice of burning tyres, rubber, plastic and artificial products thereby causing a thick black smoke. The smoke often led to breathing problems, itching and even burning sensation in the eyes. It also causes rampant air pollution and the thick envelope of smoke often leads to flight delays even affects traffic on roads.
