Kolkata: Several organisations representing the Bihari community in Kolkata have appealed to Chhath devotees to follow the govt’s guidelines on bursting crackers during the four-day festival from Nov 13 to 16.“Our organisation, along with our associates in different towns of Bengal, sensitises people about celebrating the festival in a safe manner. We have been creating awareness well before the festival,” said Atri Sharma, president of Bihari Kalyan Manch.Mamata Singh, president of Rashtriya Bihari Samaj in West Bengal, welcomed the state govt’s decision to allow a two-hour window for bursting fireworks on Chhath Puja day. “There are designated spots near all the ghats for bursting crackers, and devotees are urged to use those places only. They should not burst any crackers banned by the govt and must stop once the designated period is over,” she said.For Chhath Puja on Nov 16, the permitted window for bursting crackers will be between 6 am and 8 am. Under the govt’s guidelines, only certified green crackers manufactured by NEERI-approved manufacturers are permitted. Sound-emitting crackers must adhere to the prescribed 125-decibel ceiling, while the limit for light-emitting fireworks is 90 decibels.Bursting crackers within 100m of hospitals, nursing homes, educational institutions and other designated silence zones is prohibited.Anil Singh, secretary of the Kolkata Bihari Samaj Ekta Manch in central Kolkata, said “Several citizens’ groups have expressed concern that the festival could bring intense noise pollution. We have been appealing to all Chhath devotees heading to the ghats not to burst banned crackers and to follow all other govt guidelines.”There have also been reports of crackers being burst in some neighbourhoods ahead of the festival. Sharma said his organisation had already appealed to people to refrain from bursting crackers during the days leading up to the celebrations.
