Kolkata: From divergent signals from the top to the non-implementation of green rules on the ground, several factors contributed to what was probably the noisiest Kali Puja-Diwali celebration in recent times. Dismayed by rampant violations of noise norms over the past three days, environmentalists and citizens blamed the political leadership’s apparent support for unrestricted celebrations and the police’s failure to sensitise people about the need to curb noise pollution. Despite the widely publicised 8 pm-10 pm window for bursting crackers on Kali Puja and Diwali, celebrations continued well beyond the stipulated hours.At a time when the city was gasping under toxic air as firecrackers pushed the AQI above 500 on Diwali night, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and some of his party colleagues appeared to send mixed signals, defending the celebrations while attributing criticism to political and ideological motives.Defending the festivities, he had said people had the right to celebrate Diwali and attributed it to a “Sanatan awakening”. At several pandal inaugurations, including Amherst Street and Khalishani, he had urged people to use green crackers and follow noise pollution guidelines while also asserting that firecrackers were part of the celebrations.The message led to a sudden slack in the attitude of police who had, till three days earlier, held meetings and displayed intent to crack down on those violating the norms.Other statements from party functionaries complicated the message. Tollygunge MLA Papia Adhikari, while inaugurating a Kali Puja, claimed that bursting crackers could cure several diseases. “Our chief minister has said that we will burst firecrackers. How can Kali Puja be complete without firecrackers?” she had said, adding that police guidelines would be followed.Urban development minister Agnimitra Paul had proposed mixing rose water with water used for mist spraying to tackle pollution during festivals. Yet, on Kali Puja night, both Paul and BJP MLA Roopa Ganguly took to social media to express concern over noise pollution. Ganguly said she had alerted police after watching people burst noisy crackers late at night, disturbing elderly residents and pets. Paul, meanwhile, toured neighbourhoods in a police van to take stock of the situation.Environmentalists, however, said such interventions came too late. Subhas Datta, who has been pursuing a PIL on the issue since 1995, described the violations as administrative failure. “Manufacture and entry have to be curbed. Judicial monitoring is not present,” he said, arguing that enforcement had to begin at the source rather than after crackers reached consumers.Naba Dutta of Nagarik Mancha and Sabuj Mancha alleged that the administration had gone virtually inactive in the final 72 hours before the festivities. “Till Nov 2, they were campaigning against noise crackers. But then, the administration became inactive. There must be some political decision,” he said.The supply chain from Champahati and Nungi also exposed serious enforcement gaps. Despite restrictions allowing only certified green crackers manufactured by NEERI-approved units, banned varieties were allegedly sold discreetly. Buyers said shopkeepers collected payment before arranging deliveries through women and children at designated locations. A Nungi retailer admitted that police raids began only a few days before Diwali, by which time much of the banned stock had been sold. Even after Kali Puja, prohibited crackers remained available, with a Girish Park puja committee member claiming to have procured fireworks for its immersion procession.Police, too, faced criticism for failing to contain the noise menace over two consecutive nights. Limited seizures, inadequate coordination with Bengal Police until the final hours, raids on local markets that appeared largely ineffective and requests rather than firm action against violations inside residential complexes exposed the gaps in enforcement.
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