Pune Citizens Demand Action Against Pollution Caused By Balloons, File Complaint With Collector, MPCBÂ
Pune Citizens Demand Action Against Pollution Caused By Balloons, File Complaint With Collector, MPCBÂ ( Representative Image )
Balloons Pose Environmental Threat, Say Eco-Conscious Puneites
Pune: Environmentalists in Pune have filed complaints with the Pune Municipal Corporation, District Collectorate, and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board regarding the ecological damage caused by the large-scale release of balloons during festivals and celebrations.
Anant Ramchandra Gharat, President of My Earth Foundation and a member of the Environment Club of India, highlighted the risks in a detailed letter. Key concerns include water pollution, threats to wildlife, non-biodegradable waste, air pollution, and waste management challenges.
The complaint also notes violations of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, caused by balloon releases. It emphasizes that these practices harm aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and contravene the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Gharat has proposed public awareness campaigns, promotion of eco-friendly alternatives, strict enforcement of waste management rules, and penalties for violators. He warned that failure to act may lead to an appeal with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
