Calcutta High Court has ordered a complete ban on the sale and use of all types of firecrackers including green crackers during the upcoming festivals – Kali Puja, Diwali, Chhat Puja, and Christmas. The court has allowed only wax or oil-based diyas.
Earlier, West Bengal Pollution Control Board has allowed the public to use green firecrackers for two hours on Diwali (8-10 pm), two hours on Chhat Puja between 6-8 am, and 35 mins on New Year’s Eve.
“Everyone has the right to live and for the larger interest of the public amidst the Covid pandemic, the ban was imposed. The police does not have any infrastructure to differentiate between firecrackers and green firecrackers hence the ban on sale and usage of all firecrackers was required,” the court order stated.
