Open-air fireworks display forced closure of a crucial road junction in south Kolkata for more than two hours on Monday evening, cocking a snook at the Supreme Court order restrictions.
The apex court had directed that only green fireworks could be burst in the 8-10pm window on Diwali night but a blanket ban was in place on any kind of fireworks being burst on subsequent days.
If the bursting of fireworks triggered noise and air pollution on Diwali night on October 31, those burst during the immersion processions on November 4 were no better. But the one at the Hazra Road-Motilal Nehru Road crossing in south Kolkata definitely claimed the crown of pollution.
Traffic on Hazra Road and Ritchie Road was completely halted for the fireworks being set off every few seconds
“This should not have happened in the first place. I think everybody should comply with judicial and government directives,” said Debashis Kumar, local councillor and a mayoral council member in Kolkata Municipal Corporation, on Wednesday (November 6).
Mother of all violations
Sevak Baidya Milan Samity, a club located near the Hazra Road-Motilal Nehru Road crossing, took the procession out from its pandal on November 4 evening and closed down the crucial crossing for several hours bursting fireworks and crackers; not only creating enormous pollution in the area but also running the risk of fire hazards in the neighbourhood with fireballs flying around.
“It is completely unbearable and has been continuing for more than an hour,” said Rama Nath (name changed on request) to this correspondent, who lives in a nearby building. “I am over 70 years old and have cardiac problems. Members of my family also suffer from other ailments. I really don’t know whether or not we would survive this ordeal,” she said as crackers continued to be burst every 30 seconds.
This correspondent was present at the spot for close to one hour and saw how the Supreme Court order and mandate from chief minister Mamata Banerjee about not using disc jockeys were violated with impunity. Close to 50 local youths installed a makeshift bamboo structure on the road and lit fireballs on that along with bursting high-decibel crackers. The music continued to blare from several big sound boxes.
“We do not know about such norms (about ban on firework bursting) and are bursting fireworks like we do every year. In fact, this year, we have procured fireworks from outside spending lakhs for this event,” said a local youth and a club member.
Police inaction
Residents of the locality had to tolerate hours of loud music and even louder crackers
A couple of police officers from Rabindra Sarobar police station were present as silent spectators as the revellers ran amok. “What we can do? We have requested them but they are not paying any heed,” said a policeman to this correspondent.
The office-in-charge of Rabindra Sarobar police station also seemed helpless in combating this gross violation of Supreme Court order. “I have sent the forces but if local people do not comply, what more can we do?” said the official over phone on Monday evening, as the fire crackers were bursting all around. The apex court order has clearly stated that the responsibility of controlling noise pollution lies with the head of the local police station.
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) also expressed helplessness in countering the offence. “We forwarded the complaint to police for action as per the provision of the act. Only police have the power to undertake regulatory action against the violators,” stated a senior WBPCB official.
“I have gone through the video and it was an environmental crime of the worst nature; as it was creating large-scale noise and air pollution violating all norms, including standing Supreme Court order. Concerned police officers have completely failed in their responsibility in countering the situation,” said Biswajit Mukherjee, retired chief law officer of WBPCB and former high court-appointed special officer in combating noise pollution.
‘We do not know about such norms (about ban on firework bursting) and are bursting fireworks like we do every year,’ said a local youth and a club member
“I have already written to both the central and state governments, highlighting the fireworks violation during Diwali and will move court if required,” he said.
Naba Dutta of environmental platform Sabuj Mancha pointed out that such violation has been a trend since last Diwali. “On that night, our team monitored the situation on the ground across the city and found that though police personnel were present at almost every place but were mostly mere spectators. Police action to stop the violation was missing too,” he said.
