Kolkata: With Diwali and Kali Puja still a week away, firecracker violations have already begun surfacing across several neighbourhoods of Kolkata, leaving residents disturbed and raising questions over the enforcement of restrictions announced by the state govt. Despite clear guidelines on the use of firecrackers, several pockets reported bursting of crackers on Friday evening, with residents complaining of loud noise and potential safety hazards.The areas where violations were reported from included Burrabazar, Girish Park, CR Avenue, Bangur, Kankurgachhi, Baguiati, New Town, Sinthi, Kalikapur, Behala, Chetla, Kasba and parts of New Alipore. Many of these neighbourhoods have repeatedly figured in complaints of firecracker violations over the years, with residents alleging that restrictions often prove difficult to enforce at the local level.“Diwali and Kali Puja are still more than a week away, but firecrackers are already being burst. In our area, people have been bursting crackers since Thursday,” said Richa Ghosh, a resident of Bagmari Road in Kankurgachhi. “Govt guidelines are being violated, and residents are being disturbed,” said Ghosh.Residents said the problem was particularly acute in narrow lanes, where groups of people were bursting crackers and quickly dispersing, making it difficult for police to identify those responsible. Apart from the noise, they said, the practice posed a risk to pedestrians and two-wheeler riders navigating the congested stretches.“I saw a group of boys bursting crackers in a narrow lane adjacent to Kali Krishna Tagore Street in Posta. They would disappear into their homes after bursting the crackers. Since it is a busy street, pedestrians and two-wheeler riders could easily get injured,” said Amit Gupta, a shop owner on Brojodulal Street in Posta. In the suburbs, there were reports of violations in high-rises.The concerns come at a time when the state govt has reiterated its restrictions on firecracker use during the festive season. For Kali Puja on Nov 8, bursting of firecrackers will be permitted only between 8pm and 10pm. Govt has warned that violations of the court-mandated window could invite legal action, including seizure of illegal fireworks and possible arrests.Govt has also clarified that only certified green crackers will be permitted during the designated hours, while conventional firecrackers will remain banned. Releasing sky lanterns without the requisite fire department permission will also attract legal action. Only green crackers manufactured by 1,700 NEERI-approved manufacturers are legal. The names are available on the website.Sound-emitting crackers must adhere to the prescribed 125-decibel ceiling, while the limit for light-emitting fireworks is 90 decibels. Bursting crackers within 100 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, educational institutions and other designated silence zones is prohibited.However, concerns are also mounting over the alleged availability of banned firecrackers in the city’s markets. According to police sources and individuals who have purchased such crackers, prohibited varieties are already being sold in several parts of Kolkata, with some buyers procuring them from markets in South 24 Parganas.A Bangur resident, who said he had purchased firecrackers from Nungi in South 24 Parganas on Wednesday, claimed that there was hardly any checking while he was transporting them back to the city in his car.“I purchased some firecrackers from Nungi on Wednesday for my two sons. Many of them have loud sound. There were hardly any checks on the road while I was returning after buying them. We plan to go again on Sunday,” he said.An officer of Posta police station said they have not received any complaints.
