Kolkata and Howrah witnessed a sudden decline in air quality on Monday evening with Kali Puja festivities being accompanied by indiscriminate bursting of firecrackers, defying the West Bengal Pollution Control Board's (WBPCB) norms and instructions of the police. The risk of hazardous levels of air pollution amid the celebrations worried environmentalists and residents of the city equally.
According to The New Indian Express report, The Air Quality Index (AQI) at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata was 186 PM 2.5, which places it under the category of 'poor’, a WBPCB official said. But Howrah witnessed much more worrisome numbers, with Belur registering an AQI of 364 at 10 pm, which falls under the 'severe' category. Other areas in Howrah that were hotspots were Padmapukur with 361 and Ghusuri with 252.
In Kolkata, 173 was recorded in Ballygunge, Jadavpur at 169, and Sinthi region beside Rabindra Bharati University at 167. Earlier at 8 pm, AQI scores were already above average, with Victoria at 164, Jadavpur at 159, Fort William at 117, Belur Math at 161, Rabindra Bharati University at 102, and Ballygunge at 134.
Lack of action by officials sparks public outcry
The New Indian Express also reported that environmental activist Somendra Mohan Ghosh pointed out the indiscriminate use of firecrackers with high decibel levels throughout the city. He alleged, “From Kashipur, Sinthi, Jorasanko, Maniktala to Kasba, Tollygunge, Regent Park, Behala and Jadavpur, high-decibel firecrackers were burst everywhere. Both police and WBPCB remained mere spectators and failed to curb the sale and use of firecrackers.”
Sabuj Manch's Naba Dutta repeated the apprehensions, citing that there has not been any enforcement so far, resulting in vulnerable sections of society-elderly, children, sick people, and even pets being exposed to air and noise pollution, The New Indian Express reported. The authorities have allegedly started reviewing the AQI data to get a complete picture of the effects of the celebrations. Experts have issued a warning that celebrations after Kali Puja on Tuesday will further intensify unless preventive action is taken promptly.
AQI picture on Kali Puja night
Victoria Memorial (186, Poor), Ballygunge (173, Poor), Jadavpur (169, Poor), Belur (364, Severe), Padmapukur (361, Severe), Ghusuri (252, Very Poor).
