Calcutta High Court imposed a complete ban on firecrackers. Image Courtesy – The Economic Times
The Calcutta High Court ordered a complete ban on the sale, purchase, and use of firecrackers during Diwali, Kali Puja, Chhath Puja, Christmas, or New Year’s due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation this year.
A division bench of Calcutta High Court, comprising justices Sabyasachi Bhattacharya and Aniruddha Roy, passed the order on a petition demanding re-imposition of the ban on firecrackers. It was being ordered by the court in 2020.
This order cancels the recent notification by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board that allowed the use of “green” firecrackers for a limited period of time focusing on Diwali and Kali puja. The order has been passed on October 26, 2021. It stated that the air quality in Kolkata and districts were at moderate/satisfactory levels till the third week of October. Even the time to explode the firecrackers was also defined. The Calcutta High Court issued a notification within 24 hours of the notification issued by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board banning all the firecrackers.
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So many people have come forward to express their support for the court order. But, at the same time, they regret the enjoyment of the kids. Because kids love fireworks that create multi-colour lightings and coloured torches etc. A woman of 45 expressed her regret for the kids at a popular market area at Kolkata, “Stopping crackers is a good decision, of course, but it would have been nice if we had the kids buy their fireworks and colored torches.” In her words, Diwali has a long-standing relationship with colours, light, and fireworks. A decision that was made all of a sudden is something sad.
Most of the people applauded the ban to save the deteriorating environment. But, they also objected to the sudden decision. Their opinion was – there was no logic in making such a decision at the eleventh hour. If it had to be banned, it could have been done much earlier. Those who have accumulated their capital and stored goods would not have suffered any loss. Those who were involved in the fireworks business were kicked in the stomach. The decision was made even at times like the lockdown, with a huge financial crisis in the market.
The state government has also issued similar guidelines. As a result, some firecrackers are being sold secretly. But, overall sale of the firecrackers is stopped.
After the ban on firecrackers, there was a mixed reaction among the people of Kolkata. On the whole, the urban people are happy that firecracker has been banned. They think that getting rid of the pain of pollution is a blessing. But even then, there is still regret in the corner of their mind.
