Sounds of firecrackers being burst were heard in many neighbourhoods across the city and surrounding areas on Sunday evening, residents said.
Firecrackers were repeatedly burst for about 30 minutes after India defeated Pakistan in the T20 World Cup match.
Residents complained they heard intermittent sounds of firecrackers being burst on Saturday evening, too. The state pollution control board (PCB) received six complaints of firecrackers being burst till 7.50pm on Sunday.
The complaints came from Tangra, Belgharia (on northern fringes of the city), Baruipur (on the southern fringes), Hasnabad (North 24-Parganas) and Bauria (Howrah), an official said.
Around 7.30pm, six of the 10 automatic noise-monitoring stations of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded noise levels more than the limit.
A resident of Ballygunge Circular Road said he continuously heard bursting of firecrackers for half an hour after India beat Pakistan in the T20 match.
A Kolkatan said that if illegal firecrackers were found at Bazi Bazaars, which are held under the supervision of police and other government agencies, it could be expected that others markets were flooded with such items.
A resident of New Town said he saw a group of youths bursting kalipatka on the road about 200 metres from the DLF building on Sunday afternoon.
Residents of Sovabazar, Cossipore and Salt Lake also said on Sunday that they heard sounds of firecrackers bursting.
A man who was traveling through CR Avenue said he heard several rounds of firecrackers bursting in Girish Park.
“In our area, firecrackers have been bursting since 4pm. The magnitude increased after the cricket match ended,” said a resident of Cossipore.
Only green firecrackers can be burst on Diwali, from 8pm to 10pm. Green firecrackers can be identified by scanning a QR code on the packet through the “CSIR-NEERI Green QR Code” mobile app.
The six complaints received by the state PCB office were forwarded to police. Officers of several police stations admitted that firecrackers were being burst.
“We have mobile teams that are trying to locate the people bursting crackers,” said an officer of the city police.
A team of government officials that inspected Bazi Bazaars (approved retail markets of fireworks) found that 90 per cent of the items being sold there were illegal.
