Polluting Chinese crackers flood Kolkata

The Times of India , Monday, October 20, 2014
Correspondent : TNN
KOLKATA: City police have prepared a list of 93 fireworks that failed to keep their noise level within 90-decibel limits in random tests conducted by it. The police have claimed to have already carried out numerous raids, seizing a huge cachet of banned fireworks.

But the seizure, by the admission of the cops themselves, is only the tip of the iceberg. A huge quantity of Chinese fireworks, which has been banned by Indian government, has already flooded the city.

Secretary of West Bengal Firework Manufacturers' Association Babla Roy said, "The Chinese fireworks have threatened our livelihood. The Chinese firework manufacturers do not conform to any of our country norms. Chinese crackers were sold at a cheaper rate because the cost of potassium chlorate, which they use as raw material, was only Rs 50 per kg, compared to aluminium powder that is used in Indian crackers. Aluminium powder is much less harmful. But, it costs Rs 300 a kg." Potassium Chlorate is a hazardous chemical and can ignite or explode spontaneously.

Officials in explosives department said fireworks were smuggled into the country from China through cargo containers. Though the government had ordered seizure of the containers, the customs department did not have adequate facility to seize containers of crackers. A source in the industry said about 700 containers of Chinese fireworks got smuggled into Indian market before Diwali every year through Kolkata and Nepal.

The fireworks which were found to have violated the court-prescribed noise and air pollution levels for Kolkata have fancy names. Arabian Nights, Cracking Delights, Chain Crackers, Miss India, Rose Flower, Enjoy 18, Grand Celebration, Music Pipe, Festival of India. These names may be enticing enough to a buyer. But, possession of these fireworks may land even the buyer in prison.

City police commissioner Surojit Kar Purokayastha has instructed his force to show zero tolerance against violation of noise norms this Diwali.

The police have also announced awards for firecracker sellers who comply with norms. Besides keeping a close watch on buying and selling of fireworks, the city police will also keep an eye on certain regions notorious for bursting high-sounding crackers.

"We keep raiding the retail outlets. But our major focus is on the trucks carrying fireworks from two major fireworks manufacturing hubs — Nungi and Champahati. Cracker manufacturers of Nungi and Champahati have the capacity to produce fireworks of 120 decibels. But those are meant for areas beyond the Kolkata metropolitan region. Over the years, however, we have found that a bulk of this consignment meant for areas beyond the metropolitan region gets smuggled into the city," said a senior police officer.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Polluting-Chinese-crackers-flood-Kolkata/articleshow/44881490.cms?
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us