The Mamata Banerjee government on Tuesday “advised” people against the use of firecrackers during Diwali and Kali Puja in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“All are being advised not to use any kind of firecrackers during Kali Puja and Diwali this year as air pollution could turn the situation critical for Covid patients as well as those who are facing lung problems,” Bengal chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said at Nabanna on Tuesday.
The announcement came against the backdrop of speculation that the state government was considering a ban on the sale and use of firecrackers — a step adopted by the Rajasthan government — in view of the pandemic. On Tuesday, the Odisha government also prohibited the sale and use of firecrackers from November 10 to 30.
Environment activists and healthcare specialists have written to the Bengal chief minister demanding a ban on crackers.
So far, the assessment in the state government is that the decision should be left to the good sense of the people instead of imposing a ban. Diwali and Kali Puja fall on November 14 this year.
“Considering the way the people and clubs helped the state government in maintaining the protocol during Durga Puja, it is advised that Kali Puja and Diwali are also celebrated in the same way,” the chief secretary said.
Senior government officials, including the chief secretary, the home secretary, the DGP and the city police commissioner, held a meeting with the chief minister at Nabanna earlier in the day to frame a policy to ensure that the Covid-19 situation does not deteriorate and corona-positive patients, a large number of whom face breathlessness, do not suffer during the festive season.
The chief secretary urged people not to burn any type of firecrackers, including those usually permitted in other years.
Sources in Nabanna said that the state government had yet to decide whether to take legal action if anyone burst firecrackers.
A senior official said: “We are not in favour of imposing a strict norm. We believe that good sense will prevail.”
The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the Centre and environmental and administrative agencies in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining states asking them whether firecrackers should be banned from November 7 to 30 in view of the pandemic.