Firecrackers flout Supreme Court restrictions as Kolkata records severe pollution on Diwali night
Down To Earth · Published 10 November 2026 · Last updated
Kolkata's Diwali night saw severe pollution and noise violations, exposing gaps in enforcing Supreme Court firecracker restrictions and green certification rules.
Key points
- Sabuj Mancha reported widespread firecracker violations in Kolkata on November 8, 2026, noting noise levels peaked at 96.4 decibels at BC Roy Children's Hospital.
- The Supreme Court's order dated October 29, 2026, restricted firecracker use to 8 pm-10 pm and prohibited use within 300 metres of hospitals and sensitive locations.
- PM2.5 concentrations reached 413 micrograms per cubic metre near Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, nearly seven times India's 24-hour standard of 60 micrograms.
- The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) received 57 complaints overnight, with 37 filed after the 10 pm deadline, indicating significant late-night violations.
- NEERI announced it would stop providing QR codes for green firecrackers, relying instead on a list of 1,700 approved manufacturers, including 251 in West Bengal.
- Environmental lawyer Biswajit Mukherjee stated that NEERI's decision conflicts with Supreme Court directions requiring product-specific QR codes on certified packaging.
- Only six of the 251 NEERI-approved manufacturers in West Bengal had obtained the mandatory no-objection certificate from the WBPCB, according to meeting minutes.
- The Air Quality Index (AQI) at Ballygunge rose from 100 at 10 pm to above 400 around midnight, classified as 'severe' by the Central Pollution Control Board.
- Dr Dulal Bose, president of Sabuj Mancha, alleged that medical students and staff burst firecrackers inside RG Kar and MR Bangur hospital campuses.
- Activists criticized police enforcement, noting a reduced presence on roads later in the night compared to previous years, leading to unchecked violations.
Background
- The Supreme Court issued an order on October 29, 2026, specifying time restrictions and distance buffers for firecracker usage to mitigate pollution.
- Earlier nationwide directions by the court mandated that certified green firecracker packaging carry QR codes revealing manufacturer details and test certificates.
- The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) maintains a national list of approved manufacturers, with 1,700 entities certified across India.
- West Bengal authorities had issued their own restrictions ahead of the festival, aligning with the Supreme Court's timeline of 8 pm to 10 pm.
- The West Bengal Pollution Control Board is responsible for issuing mandatory no-objection certificates to firecracker manufacturers in the state.
- Sabuj Mancha has monitored pollution around Kolkata's hospitals for more than a decade, providing long-term data on environmental violations during festivals.
Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: Down To Earth