Kolkata: State urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul and BJP MLA from Sonarpur Dakshin Roopa Ganguly took to social media last night, expressing their grievances against noise pollution on Kali Puja. Earlier, Ganguly sought help from Kolkata Police to curb the menace and Paul hit the streets, moving around with cops in a police van to take stock of the situation at night. Given the rampant bursting of banned crackers on Kali Puja night, both BJP functionaries pointed out that revellers ought to spare a thought for the inconvenience caused to elderly citizens and animals. They urged revellers to ensure that the joy of Kali Puja does not become a cause of sorrow for others.Paul conceded that despite repeated appeals and govt guidelines, “loud and banned crackers were burst in several parts of south Kolkata around 1 am-2 am on Kali Puja night”.Her post read: “As a resident of south Kolkata, I, too, had to endure this unbearable situation. Eventually, to assess the situation on the ground and bring the firecracker nuisance under control, I had to step out onto the streets myself at night. Along with the OCs of Rabindra Sarobar and Ballygunge police stations, as well as other cops and administrative officials, I visited several areas. It is quite difficult to identify the source of loud firecrackers from a distance, especially shell bombs that explode in the sky.”Asking the revellers to spare a thought for children, the elderly, the ailing and the animals, the minister said the “govt alone cannot do everything, nor can a public representative manage it all single-handedly”.“Even after repeated appeals from the govt, if it becomes necessary to remain on the roads until 2 am to handle such a situation, then the matter is truly worrying. The administration can enforce the law and, if required, take strict action. But no social change can be lasting without voluntary cooperation and awareness among the public. When the govt acts firmly, those steps too often face criticism. Yet, it is the responsibility of each of us to obey the law,” Paul said.Ganguly sought help from Kolkata Police at night, stating: “When will this noise stop? Can’t sleep.” A team from Kolkata Police curbed the noise demon in the Tollygunge-Bijoygarh area within 10 minutes of her making the social media post.On Monday, Ganguly told TOI: “I watched through my windows that some people were bursting noisy crackers late at night. Many elderly people and pets were facing trouble and finding it difficult to sleep, which prompted me to alert the police through social media. Cops took immediate action.”The MLA said she had lit a few sparklers in the evening for around 10 minutes. “That celebrations should not turn out to cause inconvenience to others should always be kept in mind. We should not blame the administration always. It is people who should have the awareness,” she said.
