Bengal Allows Only Green Crackers During Kali Puja and Chhath
Kolkata, October 29: New firecracker guidelines for Kali Puja and Chhath Puja have been issued by the West Bengal government. The directives, released on Thursday, seek to ensure that festive joy does not come at the cost of environmental health or public safety.
The government made the announcement during a press conference at Nabanna, the state secretariat in Kolkata. Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta and Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh presented the details of the new rules.
According to the guidelines, only green firecrackers, which are considered environment-friendly, may be used during Kali Puja and Chhath Puja. Noise levels have also been capped, with a maximum of 125 decibels for loud firecrackers and 90 decibels for the rest.
The permitted bursting hours have been clearly defined. On Kali Puja, crackers can be burst from 8 pm to 10 pm. During Chhath Puja, the allowed window is 6 am to 8 am.
Residents of multi-storey apartments have been advised to keep an eye on smoke levels while lighting crackers. The government has also made it mandatory to obtain a license from the fire department before releasing akashdeep, or paper lanterns.
The rules impose a complete prohibition on bursting firecrackers within a 100-metre radius of hospitals and old-age homes. Firecracker markets must be set up away from residential areas, and the government has ordered strict monitoring of these sites.
In a separate development, Kolkata Police said that 110 kilograms of banned firecrackers were seized during an action drive in the city. Legal proceedings are underway against those involved.
DGP Siddh Nath Gupta warned that anyone found violating the guidelines would face legal action. The state has also set up a helpline number for filing complaints.
Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh appealed to citizens to celebrate responsibly and to ensure that their celebrations do not cause inconvenience or harm to others. She urged everyone to follow the new guidelines strictly.