Nagpur police have launched a 24×7 helpline, 9823300100, for citizens to report firecracker-related noise and air pollution violations during festivities. Complaints will be examined immediately, with police stations directed to take action against those found violating the applicable restrictions.
DCP (Special Branch) Sandeep Pakhale said citizens can call the dedicated number to report violations. He added that members of the public can also use the emergency number 112 to alert the police about the bursting of firecrackers.
The complaint mechanism follows restrictions imposed by the high court on the use of firecrackers in public spaces. The court has prohibited bursting firecrackers on public streets, roads, lanes and footpaths during festivities, according to the report.
The restrictions also cover silence zones. These include areas around hospitals, schools, courts and government offices, where the use of firecrackers has been prohibited. The restrictions are intended to protect locations where noise can interfere with healthcare, education, judicial work and government operations.
The police said complaints received through the dedicated helpline would be examined immediately. Legal action will be initiated against people found violating the rules, a senior police officer said. The mechanism places the police stations concerned at the centre of the response after a complaint is received.
The two reporting channels give residents separate routes to alert the police. The dedicated number, 9823300100, is intended for complaints relating to firecracker noise and air pollution during the festive period, while 112 remains available for immediate police alerts. The announcement did not specify the staffing arrangement for the helpline, the number of complaints expected or the penalties applicable in individual cases.
The restrictions make the location of firecracker use significant. Bursting crackers on public streets, roads, lanes and footpaths is covered by the court’s directions, as is their use in silence zones around key public institutions. Police action will therefore depend on examining complaints against these stated restrictions and identifying violations.
For residents, the dedicated number creates a direct reporting channel for disturbances and pollution concerns linked to firecrackers. For the police, it creates a central mechanism to receive complaints and refer them to the respective stations for action. The police have not announced any separate public dashboard or reporting system for the complaints received.
Nagpur police’s next step is to examine complaints made through 9823300100 and coordinate action through the respective police stations. Citizens may also continue to use 112 to alert the police about firecracker violations.
