Chennai Airport Urges Smoke-Free Bhogi Celebrations

Chennai Airport and environmental authorities have launched a coordinated advisory ahead of the Bhogi festival, urging residents in airport-adjacent neighbourhoods to forgo traditional burning of waste materials that produce thick smoke and compromise air quality. The appeal reflects growing recognition of how seasonal cultural practices intersect with urban air pollution, public health and critical infrastructure performance. 

Bhogi, observed on the eve of the Pongal harvest festival, traditionally involves lighting bonfires to symbolise letting go of the old. However, when plastics, tyres and other non-biodegradable waste are burned alongside organic fuel, dense black smoke can form — a phenomenon that has repeatedly affected visibility at Chennai International Airport in past years, forcing rescheduling and cancellations of flights due to impaired runway sightlines. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and airport management have appealed particularly to residents in Meenambakkam, Gowl Bazaar, Pozhichalur, Pammal, Anagaputhur, Thoraipakkam, Manapakkam and Nandambakkam, where early morning bonfires often produce plumes that drift across the airport perimeter. High concentrations of smoke, especially when coupled with seasonal fog, can significantly reduce horizontal visibility — conditions that are unsafe for aircraft operations. 

Last year, proactive scheduling adjustments helped minimise disruptions by shifting arrival and departure times outside peak smog periods, but authorities acknowledge that preventing smoke at the source is more effective than managing its downstream effects. The current awareness campaign — conducted in partnership with local civic bodies — emphasises community cooperation to avoid burning plastics, rubber and other harmful materials in Bhogi fires. Environmental scientists and public health analysts note that the adverse impacts of such burning extend well beyond aviation. When plastics and tyres are combusted, they emit a suite of toxic compounds including carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen oxides, dioxins and particulate matter that can linger in the lower atmosphere, degrading air quality and exacerbating respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. 

In recent years, air quality monitoring efforts have been expanded around Bhogi to capture short-term pollution spikes across Chennai’s 15 administrative zones. These data help regulators estimate concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) — key contributors to smog — and inform advisories for sensitive groups including children and older adults. Civic authorities such as the Greater Chennai Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) have also urged residents to hand over obsolete materials to door-to-door waste collection services rather than incinerating them. Public outreach campaigns, ambient air quality surveys and enforcement patrols aim to reduce open burning while highlighting alternatives that respect cultural traditions without compromising environmental quality. 

Urban sustainability advocates argue that integrating environmental considerations into cultural celebrations is increasingly essential for coastal cities like Chennai, where winter inversion layers trap pollutants close to the ground and amplify health risks. They suggest that broader adoption of eco-friendly practices — such as using natural firewood or dry leaves rather than synthetic waste — can preserve festival spirit while safeguarding air quality, community health and infrastructure reliability. 

As Bhogi approaches, the emphasis on smoke-free festivities highlights an evolving understanding of how cultural norms and urban resilience strategies must align to support healthier, more sustainable cities.

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Chennai Airport Urges Smoke-Free Bhogi Celebrations