KOLKATA: The Bengal government wants citizens and
Kali Puja organisers to refrain from bursting crackers and lighting fireworks — even legal ones — during Kali Puja and Diwali in order to prevent an air pollution spike, a regular occurrence after the twin festivals, which could prove disastrous for Covid patients.
“We must ensure that our happiness does not cause pain to others,” chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said on Tuesadauy after a meeting chaired by chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna.
Following the appeal, Kolkata and
Howrah police have decided not to allow any bazi bazaar — the annual pre-Kali Puja fireworks mart — this year.
Bandyopadhyay also called for an embargo on immersion processions and cultural functions, on the lines of Durga Puja, saying the earlier restraint had been yielding results.
“This year, there was no procession during immersion of Durga idols. Clubs organising Kali Puja should do likewise and cooperate with local police stations for proper and peaceful immersion of idols,” he said.
Positivity rate, death rate and infection rate were on the decline despite people hitting the streets during the festival, he said, reminding all stakeholders to be responsible during Kali Puja as well, so that the trend did not get reversed. “We are in the midst of a
pandemic. There are many patients with comorbidities and respiratory distress. Some patients are in Covid isolation; several in home isolation. We all know that air pollution can be very dangerous for them. We therefore appeal to everyone to refrain from bursting or lighting any firecrackers. While there remains a complete ban on some firecrackers imposed by Supreme Court and other regulatory bodies, we would urge everyone not to to burst or light even those firecrackers that are permissible,” Bandyopadhyay said.
He also announced measures for Kali Puja organisers, including open pandals, mask-wearing and sanitisation. “There can be a roof over the idol, but all sides of the pandal should be open to allow proper ventilation and unrestricted movement of people. Considering the pandemic, everybody should follow the hygiene protocol and maintain basic health guidelines like wearing masks and proper sanitisation,” he said.
Bengal on Tuesday had 36,443 active Covid cases and 98,614 people in home quarantine.“We are in a pandemic. There are many patients with comorbidities and respiratory distress. Some patients are in Covid isolations; several in home isolation. We all know that air pollution can be very dangerous for them. We therefore appeal to everyone to refrain from bursting or lighting any firecrackers. While there remains a complete ban on some firecrackers imposed by Supreme Court and other regulatory bodies, we would urge everyone not to to burst or light even those firecrackers that are permissible,” state chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said, calling on people to celebrate the festivals in the right spirit.
He also announced SOPs for Kali Puja, including open pandals, wearing of masks and sanitization. “There can be a roof over the idol but all sides of the pandal should be open to allow proper ventilation and unrestricted movement of people. Considering the pandemic everybody should follow the hygiene protocol and maintain basic health guidelines like wearing masks and proper sanitisation.”
The CS also called for an embargo on immersion processions and cultural functions like the Durga Puja. "This year, there was no processions during immersion of Durga idols. Clubs organising Kali Puja should also do likewise and cooperate with local police station for proper and peaceful immersion of the idol,” he said.
The advisory was issued after a meeting chaired by chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna during the day. Pointing out that restraint displayed during the Durga Puja was yielding results as positivity rate, death rate and infection rate were on the decline dispite people hitting the streets during the festival, the CS called for responsible behaviour during Kali Puja and Diwali to ensure the trend did not get reversed.
“We must ensure that our happiness does not cause pain to others,” Bandyopadhyay stressed.