District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo has stated that the people should make it a point to celebrate Deepavali free from noise pollution. He has suggested that the money to be spent on firecrackers could be set aside for helping the poor students to buy books and clothes. In a statement issued here, the Collector has observed that the firecrackers would cause both noise and atmospheric pollution. Bursting of firecrackers would generate sulphur-dioxide, nitrogen-dioxide and harmful suspended particles. These would cause irritation in the eyes and choke the respiratory system. The firecrackers that would produce over 125 decibels of noise would affect the ear drums and cause hearing problems. The Collector, therefore, has called upon the people to strictly adhere to the directions of Supreme Court in this regard, such as desisting from bursting high-decibel level and sharp light emitting firecrackers from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Bursting of firecrackers should be avoided in slum areas or wherever huts are present, narrow lanes, multi-storeyed apartments, densely populated areas, roads with heavy vehicular traffic and places where large number of people gathers. Those who try their hands on firecrackers should wear tight-fitting cotton garments and wear chappals, the Collector added.