The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has banned firecrackers in Bengal on the occasion of Kali Puja-Diwali and Chhath Puja. In the instructions issued by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, it has been said that only green crackers will be allowed for two hours on Diwali and Chhath festival and 35 minutes on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
In the guideline issued by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board regarding firecrackers, it has been instructed that green firecrackers are allowed to be burn from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali and from 6 am to 8 am on Chhath Puja. On behalf of the board, it has been said that no other type of firecrackers are allowed in the state. It is to be known that earlier also in states like Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi and Haryana, firecrackers have been banned.
Diwali celebration has been banned in West Bengal even before this and in this regard the West Bengal Crackers Dealers Association has also demanded the state government to allow the sale and use of firecrackers. Last time a few days before Diwali, the sale and burning of firecrackers was banned. However, during the cricket match, there were fierce firecrackers. Last year also the question arose that when firecrackers were burst during a cricket match, then what is the need of banning it now. However, the administration did not accepted this argument.
Last year in West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court had banned the use of firecrackers during Diwali, Chhath Puja, Kali Puja etc. An appeal was filed against this in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had upheld the order of the High Court. The Supreme Court had refused to interfere with the plea against the ban on firecrackers in West Bengal during the ongoing festive season, including Diwali.
