West Bengal: Cops start awareness drive, urge high-rise residents not to burst polluting fireworks

KOLKATA: Cops from both Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police, which have identified a few high-rise pockets notorious for bursting banned fircrackers, launched an awareness programme against polluting fireworks.
They started taking out rallies on Friday, a week ahead of the festival, urging people not to celebrate Diwali-Kali Puja with harmful fireworks.

Police said the awareness drive this year was different. "We are not only requesting residents to avoid noisy and illegal firecrackers but also telling them to stick to only green ones. We urged them not to allow even others burst banned crackers," said an officer.
Bidhannagar Police on Friday held a procession in Lake Town, Bangur Avenue and Dum Dum Park. "A majority of complaints about violation of firecracker norms comes from high-rises in Lake Town, Dum Dum Park and Bangur Avenue. We took out a rally there, spreading words about cracker norms and pleading with the residents to celebrate with only green crackers, approved by the NGT," said an officer from the Lake Town police station.
Police, with school students, went around the area with loud speakers and posters, announcing the rules and ways to identify green crackers, the packets of which are supposed to have a QR code. Bidhannagar Police have lined up more rallies next week, one of which will have pet-owners and their pets as participants. They will plead with people of New Town and Bidhannagar not to burst noisy crackers as the loud sounds affected animals.
The Kolkata Police, too, have zeroed in on some high-rises, distributing pamphlets saying only green crackers can be burst from 8pm to 10pm. While meetings at some high-rises in central and south Kolkata were held the last two days, larger rallies and programmes have been planned from Monday.
At a meeting, a housing society representative asked cops from the Ballygunge PS what should he do if he saw someone known bursting banned crackers. "Stop him. If you are a responsible citizen, you will lead by example," said an officer. "Teams are setting up nakas and raiding markets. But this is also about acting as responsible citizens." Police warned housing representatives of legal action. "We are not asking to shut balconies and terraces on Diwali. But they must cooperate with our beat officers on the rounds," said an officer.