kolkata-2-hour-window-to-burst-firecrackers-on-diwali

Residents of Kolkata are allowed to burst only between 8pm and 10pm on October 31 this year. 

 

Those not adhering to this time period will face legal action. 

 

This is as per Supreme Court’s directions that allows bursting of crackers for two hours on the day of Diwali/Kali Puja each year, said a Lalbazar officer.

 

Markets where crackers will be sold will remain operational for seven days between October 26 and November 1. 

 

They will be set up at Tala Park, Shahid Minar, Behala Blind School, and Kalikapur’s Aguan Sangha.

 

Kolkata Police met with various government stakeholders and decided that the registration certificate is the more authenticated document to decide if the manufacturer is registered with them. 

 

The certificate will be enough to indicate whether or not a firework is certified. 

 

Sale of green firecrackers

 

Reports claim that there will be four green firecrackers markets in the city and 68 more across the state. These shops will focus exclusively on selling green fireworks. 

 

In Kolkata, four such markets will function at Tala Park, Maidan, Tollygunge and Behala.

 

However, environmental activists have raised concerns about the rampant sale of unauthorised non-green fireworks in the market. 

 

The government has allowed 72 such markets to promote and sell only green fireworks across the state. 

 

But there has been rampant manufacturing and sale of banned conventional fireworks, which are 30 per cent more polluting and noisier. 

 

Meanwhile, asserting that West Bengal is home to all sections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the people to celebrate every festival together.

 

Inaugurating a number of community Kali Puja pandals across Kolkata, she also urged the people to celebrate Diwali with environment-friendly firecrackers.

 

"Bengal is a state, where nobody will ask you about your caste. Or try to know about your religion," Banerjee said.

 

"We are proud to say that you all are citizens of Bengal. Whenever you are staying here, please consider it as your home state. Do not misunderstand me views, try to understand them," she added.