A vendor sells green firecrackers ahead of the ‘Diwali’ festival.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Kolkata Police issued directives for the bursting of firecrackers within the city limits during Kali Puja and Diwali festivities, allowing only the use of green firecrackers between specified hours on October 20 and October 28.
“…this is to notify that authorized green crackers can be displayed/discharged during the ensuing Kali Puja and Deepawali festivals on 20.10.2025 from 8pm till 10pm only and during Chhat Puja festival on 28.10.2025 from 6am till 8am only,” the October 16 notification by Kolkata Police reads.
On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal government to ensure effective implementation of directions passed in a public interest litigation (PIL) in November 2023 with respect to curbing air pollution and sound pollution during Kali Puja and Diwali.
The PIL includes directions like banning firecrackers, other than green crackers bearing QR Code, from being sold in the Bazi Bazar and the deployment of Kolkata Police and State Pollution Control Board personnel in the Bazi Bazar to inspect sales.
The vacation division bench of Justice Biswajit Basu and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta on Thursday also directed the State to file a report disclosing how far the decisions taken in the State government meeting on August 29 were implemented.
On August 29 this year, in a meeting of government officials chaired by the Chief Secretary, certain decisions were taken concerning green firecrackers and the establishment of green firecracker clusters.
“The State Pollution Control Board shall take all necessary measures required to be taken by it with regard to the pollution level during the period of Kali Puja and Diwali festivals and shall file a report on the said issue,” 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 limit their sales to only green crackers. Police and fire department officials also carried out inspections of stalls selling firecrackers to ensure compliance.
Published – October 18, 2025 05:38 am IST
