Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma announced increased measures to enforce the city’s firecracker ban on Diwali, with a special focus on high-rise buildings and suburban areas. Verma stated that specific instructions had been given to officers to monitor these locations, where firecracker violations are frequently reported.
“Special instructions have been given for highrise buildings. Anyone who violates the law, strict action will be taken,” said Verma. High-rise terraces, often used for bursting crackers, pose a challenge for police surveillance due to limited accessibility. In response, police have urged residents to lock terraces and will position officers on ground floors to respond swiftly to any violations.
Verma also conducted an inspection at the Bazi Bazar near Shahid Minar, ensuring compliance with the rule permitting only green crackers. “We have held multiple meetings with stakeholders and manufacturers. Instructions have been given that only green crackers can be used. A lot of public awareness campaigns have been done,” he noted.
The certified green crackers can be identified by a QR code on their packaging, which links to a certificate from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). Non-certified firecrackers, detected through the absence of a valid certificate upon scanning, will be deemed illegal.