The Kolkata book fair did reasonably well in managing plastic pollution but dust and noise pollution remain a concern, found environmentalists who monitored the environmental quality of the fair.
The dip in environmental quality has long been hurting the fair and was instrumental in shifting the fair from its original address on the Maidan in the heart of Kolkata following a Calcutta High Court order.
“Generally, plastic carry bags were not provided in the fair,” reads the report prepared by environment platform Sabuj Mancha, which has also been shared with the state pollution control board.
“Our assessment shows that overall environmental quality was better than earlier years,” said an official of West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB).
“The environmental situation in the just concluded fair was better than earlier ones, but noise pollution in some stalls and dust issues remained a concern. In fact we had to lodge complaints on noise pollution in a few stalls,” said Naba Dutta, secretary of Sabuj Mancha.
Some of the stalls in the fair were allegedly blaring microphones without attaching sound limiters, an obligatory requirement under judicial order. Moreover, the dust was swelling up as the footfall increased, particularly in the narrow zones with open ground and minimal grass.