Kolkata Police restricts firecracker use, permits solely authorised inexperienced crackers for 2 hours on Diwali, Chhat Puja

The Kolkata Police issued directives for the bursting of firecrackers throughout the metropolis limits throughout Kali Puja and Diwali festivities, permitting solely the usage of inexperienced firecrackers between specified hours on October 20 and October 28.

“…that is to inform that approved inexperienced crackers could be displayed/discharged in the course of the ensuing Kali Puja and Deepawali festivals on 20.10.2025 from 8pm until 10pm solely and through Chhat Puja competition on 28.10.2025 from 6am until 8am solely,” the October 16 notification by Kolkata Police reads.

On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal authorities to make sure efficient implementation of instructions handed in a public curiosity litigation (PIL) in November 2023 with respect to curbing air air pollution and sound air pollution throughout Kali Puja and Diwali. 

The PIL contains instructions like banning firecrackers, aside from inexperienced crackers bearing QR Code, from being offered within the Bazi Bazar and the deployment of Kolkata Police and State Pollution Control Board personnel within the Bazi Bazar to examine gross sales.

The trip division bench of Justice Biswajit Basu and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta on Thursday additionally directed the State to file a report disclosing how far the choices taken within the State authorities assembly on August 29 had been carried out.

On August 29 this 12 months, in a gathering of presidency officers chaired by the Chief Secretary, sure selections had been taken regarding inexperienced firecrackers and the institution of inexperienced firecracker clusters. 

“The State Pollution Control Board shall take all needed measures required to be taken by it with regard to the air pollution degree in the course of the interval of Kali Puja and Diwali festivals and shall file a report on the stated concern,” the Calcutta High Court on October 16 reads.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma visited Bazi Bazar at Central Kolkata’s Shahid Minar on Thursday and instructed firecracker sellers to restrict their gross sales to solely inexperienced crackers. Police and hearth division officers additionally carried out inspections of stalls promoting firecrackers to make sure compliance.