Sonowal urges people to buy local products, earthen lamps

GUWAHATI

As Assam braces up for a “Green Diwali” come Saturday, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has urged people to choose local products over imported products during the two-day festival.

In fact, under the tagline, “Local for Diwali”, Sonowal has requested people to buy textiles made of Eri silk, which is a heritage product of Assam.

A tweet from the chief minister’s office on the eve of Diwali, said, “This Diwali if you are planning to purchase or gift something unique for your loved ones, take a look at the world-famous Eri Silk, a warm and non-violent local product from Assam.”

“The warm Eri silk of Assam is a heritage product with distinctive thermal properties that make it a perfect winter adornment. Thousands of weavers in the state are involved in making this unique textile, making Eri a source of livelihood and pride,” it said.

Sonowal also conveyed a message by stopping his convoy midway to buy earthen lamps from potters near the Kamakhya Gate area on Friday. He interacted with a few potters/sellers and inquired about their trade.

Taking to Twitter, Sonowal further wrote: “From earthen lamps to clothes, this Diwali, let us show support to our artisans by using or gifting local textiles and handcrafted items.”

The Pollution Control Board Assam (PCBA) has banned the sale and use of “all kinds of firecrackers” in Guwahati till November 30, 2020.

A notification was issued by PCBA on Tuesday, following directives of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to 18 states, including Assam, asking the states to refrain from bursting firecrackers because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is pertinent to recall that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Guwahati had shot up to 371 after the Diwali celebrations last year.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, AQI between 301 and 400 is considered “very poor” given that even healthy people can develop respiratory illness when the AQI rises beyond 301.

(Edited by Andre Kongri)