Kolkata: Kolkata: QR codes will no longer determine whether the cracker you are buying is a legally approved green cracker or not, officials of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) told fireworks traders on Wednesday at a meeting attended by police and pollution control board (PCB) officials.“We will publish the list of approved manufacturers outside the Bazi Bazaars so that customers know that they are buying legal stuff,” said Subhankar Manna, one of the organisers of Tala Park Bazi Bazaar. A senior NEERI official said the list was available on the institute’s website. “Around 1,700 manufacturers, those who are making legal green crackers, have licence from NEERI and PESO. We issue certificate to manufacturers only when they have the mechanism to make green crackers according to our formula,” said R J Krupadam, coordinator at National Centre of Excellence for Green Firecrackers at NEERI’s Nagpur headquarters. The approved manufacturers have the right to transport and sell the items.“Earlier, we found that many manufacturers copied QR codes from others who received valid QR codes from us. QR codes meant for one manufacturer were being used by others without our knowledge. Therefore, we decided to discontinue the QR code mechanism,” said Krupadam.Only green crackers can be burst during a two-hour window – 8 pm to 10 pm – on Kali Puja and Diwali. Bursting any other type of cracker or using green crackers at any other time is illegal according to a 2021 state PCB order, later endorsed by Calcutta High Court.This year’s Bazi Bazaars at Tala Park and Sahid Minar ground became uncertain after new applications came in for organising the fairs.Fireworks traders said the new applicants were not invited to the meeting with police on Wednesday, giving the indication that the old organisers will retain the right to hold the fairs. “We hope to get the allotment letters soon,” said an organiser. Bazi Bazaars are also held at Kalikapur and Behala.“If any new entrant wants to organise the fair, they must do so with the old organisers as they have the experience of holding the fair,” an officer told TOI.At Wednesday’s meeting, police told the fireworks traders to maintain a minimum gap of 9 ft between stalls.On Friday, Kolkata Police will conduct tests of the green crackers to be sold before Kali Puja and Diwali.Organisers of Bazi Bazaars have to submit samples of the crackers to police by 11 am on Thursday. A trader said they will submit two sets of samples to police as one set will be sent to NEERI.
