The West Bengal Pollution Control Board will operate two helpline numbers on 7, 8 and 9 November for citizens to report firecracker violations during Diwali and Chhath Puja, as the state moves to enforce restricted bursting hours and approved firecracker norms.
Residents can contact the WBPCB on 03322023059 or 18003453390 to report discomfort or violations linked to firecracker noise. The helpline will remain operational across the three-day period, according to the information released by the state authorities.
Environment Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon said only green firecrackers approved by the authorities would be permitted, and that they could be burst only within the prescribed two-hour windows. On Diwali, the permitted period is from 8 pm to 10 pm. On Chhath Puja, firecrackers will be allowed from 6 am to 8 am.
“Bursting of firecrackers beyond the stipulated time will not be allowed. We will follow the norms strictly and will only allow environment-friendly firecrackers. Any violation of the norms will be dealt with strictly by the police,” Oraon said.
The enforcement plan involves coordination between the state pollution control board and the police. The agencies will maintain vigil to check violations of the permitted time limits, including in residential housing complexes across Kolkata and other parts of the city. According to data cited from the pollution control board and city police, such housing complexes have reported violations of firecracker rules in recent years.
The issue is significant for dense urban neighbourhoods, where sound travels across closely packed apartment buildings and complaints can arise from activity taking place within private housing premises. The WBPCB will hold a meeting with residential housing societies in the city as part of the effort to communicate and enforce the restrictions.
The authorities have also linked firecracker enforcement to labour protections in the manufacturing sector. Where violations of child labour norms are found at firecracker manufacturing units, the department will inform the district administration and the state Labour Department for action under existing rules.
Oraon said the government was responding to what he described as long-prevailing malpractices in the firecracker industry. “In the new regime, we will try to address these issues,” he said.
The helpline numbers, police monitoring and planned engagement with housing societies are intended to give residents a direct channel to report violations during the specified festival periods. Enforcement will focus on the approved firecracker list and the time windows of 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali and 6 am to 8 am on Chhath Puja.
