Kolkata: An app developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) for retailers and buyers of fireworks to check if they are green is not available on either Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Retailers who downloaded the app last year are also unable to use it.
Speaking to TOI on Monday, three days prior to Diwali-Kali Puja celebrations in the city when fireworks worth several crores are burst, fireworks dealers said they were unable to understand if the packets of fireworks that claimed to be green and contained a QR code were genuine or were being passed off as environment-friendly fireworks.
"We are simply buying fireworks from a list of 700-odd manufacturers of green crackers, including some from Bengal. But we have no way of checking if they are indeed green fireworks and hence, cannot vouch for their authenticity," said Subhankar Manna, joint secretary of the Baji Bazar at Tala Park.
Green crackers use a low amount of thermite or magnesium instead of aluminium to reduce air and sound pollution. They also emit water vapour during explosion to suppress dust. In the run-up to Diwali and Kali Puja, all agencies, including WBPCB and Kolkata Police, have been publicising the need to buy fireworks with the CSIR-NEERI logo and QR code on the packaging, and are urging buyers to check authenticity by using the app. But the app is currently not available for download.
"We are facing a peculiar situation. Customers are demanding that we show that the fireworks are green but we are unable to do so," said Burrabazar Fireworks Traders' Association joint secretary Santanu Dutta. TOI called and messaged a CSIR-NEERI official on the issue but was unable to get a response.
While customers began trickling into the Baji Bazars on Monday, three of the four Baji Bazars at Saheed Minar, Tala Park and Behala will start full-fledged functioning only on Tuesday. The Baji Bazar at Kalikapur became fully operational on Monday as the fairground where it is held was in better shape than the others, which were waterlogged after Friday's rain.