With four people already having been killed in explosions in fire cracker factories ahead of festivities and seizure of hundreds of kilograms of banned crackers from the city and outskirts,West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has geared itself to prevent noise pollution during Kali Puja through a multi-pronged strategy of awareness,patrolling and not approving crackers of high intensity to be sold in market. On Wednesday morning,two tableau-vehicles set off to criss cross the city for spreading awareness about sound pollution,highlighting the helpline numbers to contact and distributing pamphlets. The vehicles were flagged off in presence of Environment Minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar. Officials of the WBPCB said four similar vehicles will go around various adjoining areas to spread awareness. Meanwhile,members of Burrabazar Fireworks Association met the board officials complaining that the instruments used by their officials and police gave different readings during the noise test of crackers. The board,however,refused to give any concession to the traders. "We are not going to allow any cracker beyond permissible sound limit. There has been drastic level of reduction in the noise pollution in the Durga Pujas. We are continuing with similar efforts during the Kali Puja," said Benoy K Dutta,chairman WBPCB. According to Dutta,about 30 patrol vehicles with the officials of the pollution control board and the police will go around during the Kali Puja on October 26,27 and 28. "Last year,we did not make any such arrangement. But this year we will be monitoring the use of crackers through the vehicles and in coordination with the police," Dutta said. "Moreover,our help lines will be open throughout the night so that people can complain about any violation of noise pollution," Dutta added. This year,only 21 of the 39 varieties of crackers were approved by the pollution control board as per the benchmark of 90 decibel noise.
