Kolkata: The sound of firecrackers grew louder across the city as Dhanteras gave way to Chhoti Diwali, raising concerns over whether Kali Puja and Diwali on Sunday could see a further escalation in noise levels. With violations reported in several pockets since Friday, residents and environmental activists fear the festive Sunday could test the city’s noise-control measures.Rampant use of banned crackers has left citizens dreading yet another noisy Kali Puja-Diwali celebration on Sunday. The courts have set an 8pm to 10pm window for fireworks on Sunday. But the order was flouted from Friday afternoon itself when loud bangs startled several neighbourhoods, including Ballygunge, Gariahat, Golpark, Kasba, Behala, Sarsuna, Santoshpur, Bansdroni and New Alipore in south Kolkata. Repeated explosions were also reported from Taltala, College Street and Amherst Street. Similar complaints came in from Howrah, Salt Lake, Lake Town and New Town.Chocolate bombs and Kalipatkas, banned almost two decades ago, continued to be used indiscriminately across neighbourhoods. After sunset, aerial fireworks joined the din, with shells being burst to launch the displays.A Kolkata Police officer said 30 FIRs had been registered till Saturday and more than 18 people arrested for selling and carrying illegal crackers. The figures were expected to rise by midnight. Bidhannagar Police arrested 11 people for the sale and storage of banned firecrackers and registered seven cases till Saturday evening.For residents, the violations were more than just a breach of rules. The noise was particularly distressing for children, elderly people, patients and pets.“I couldn’t sleep the entire Dhanteras night. The explosions began again on Saturday afternoon and since 7pm, the noise was so loud that even with doors and windows closed, the sound of bombs and shells could be heard,” said Puja Sengupta, a resident of Kalikapur.Sengupta said while she had not allowed her daughter to burst any crackers till Saturday night, the child kept asking why others could burst crackers at will. “I didn’t have an answer to her question,” she said.Residents of Dhakuria, Alipore and other neighbourhoods reported similar disturbances. Subhasree Majumdar of Jadavpur said the repeated bursting of shells had left her ailing aunt uncomfortable and her pet dog frightened.At Silver Spring off EM Bypass, police received multiple complaints from residents over the past three days. A team visited the complex and asked the residents’ welfare association to again warn residents to follow the stipulations.The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has intensified its monitoring. Its command control centre at the headquarters became operational on Saturday evening and will remain functional round the clock until Monday night. Five mobile squads have been deployed in Kolkata, while each of the board’s 11 regional offices in the districts has fielded two teams.A Behala resident said crackers were being burst every few minutes on Saturday evening. Two residents of Kasba and Garia reported similar disturbances. Metro commuters said they spotted burnt remains of rockets and shells falling on Metro overhead tracks on Saturday evening. Metro officials, however, said services were not affected.Environmental activists have expressed concern over the likely scale of violations on Diwali night. Naba Datta of rights group Nagarik Mancha, which records noise violations during Kali Puja and Diwali, said rampant sale of crackers outside Bazi Bazaars and in local markets had led to the proliferation of noise crackers.“The Supreme Court had in its order stated that fireworks should only be sold in designated markets like Bazi Bazaars. But this year, we find the number of stalls selling firecrackers has mushroomed in localities. They procure crackers from local suppliers like Champahati and Nungi and are not governed by any norms,” said Datta.He also said proper testing of fireworks was not carried out despite the presence of NEERI and PCB representatives. “The SC had in its order laid down mandatory testing of crackers and fireworks by agencies before they are sold for Diwali. That has not happened. Only a list of 251 crackers has been released. The absence of QR codes has also hampered effective enforcement,” he added.
