The West Bengal government will deploy round-the-clock mobile monitoring teams and establish a dedicated helpline and control room to enforce firecracker restrictions during the upcoming Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations, state Environment Minister Manoj Oraon said on Friday.
The government will take strict action against people bursting firecrackers outside the permitted hours, with authorities also keeping a close watch on illegal fireworks, noise pollution and potential fire hazards during the festive season.
Addressing reporters after a meeting, Oraon said the state would not tolerate violations of the prescribed timings. Residents will be able to report violations through a dedicated helpline, while a control room will operate round the clock to monitor complaints and coordinate action.
The government will also organise awareness camps in neighbourhoods to educate residents about the restrictions and the environmental and safety risks associated with firecrackers.
Strict timings and restrictions near hospitals, schools
Earlier, state Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh had announced that firecrackers could be burst only between 8pm and 10pm on Kali Puja night.
For Chhath Puja, the permitted window will be between 6am and 8am.
Oraon said the administration had also been directed to ensure strict enforcement of restrictions in designated silence zones. Bursting firecrackers and other noisy explosives will be prohibited within 100 metres of hospitals, schools and educational institutions.
Police and administrative officials will maintain surveillance at firecracker markets to prevent the sale of illegal and banned products.
Sky lanterns require prior fire department permission
The government has also tightened regulations governing the release of sky lanterns, making prior permission from the fire services department mandatory.
The minister and senior fire department officials warned that launching sky lanterns without the required clearance would be illegal.
The restriction will apply even to traditional families in north Kolkata, where releasing sky lanterns has been a long-standing Kali Puja custom. A fire services official present at the press conference said such families would also have to obtain prior permission or a licence from the department.
Pollution board to monitor illegal fireworks
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), working in coordination with the police, will monitor the movement and smuggling of illegal fireworks from various districts into Kolkata, Oraon said.
He added that only green firecrackers certified by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) would be permitted.
The measures are part of the state government's efforts to curb air and noise pollution and prevent fire-related accidents during the festive period. Authorities will focus on enforcing the restrictions through market inspections, mobile surveillance, public awareness campaigns and prompt action on complaints.