Bengal to organise 72 fairs for selling fireworks

West Bengal will host 72 fireworks fairs in the days leading up to Kali Puja and Diwali on October 31, an official from the fireworks industry announced on Thursday. The move comes as part of a broader initiative to regulate the sale of fireworks while ensuring safety and compliance with environmental standards.

This decision was taken following a high-level meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna, which was attended by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and representatives of the fireworks industry. Babla Roy, the chairman of the Sara Bangla Atasbajee Unnayan Samity, said that the number of fairs has increased from 52 last year to 72 this year to meet the growing demand while maintaining strict safety measures.

To ensure the safe handling of fireworks, a committee will be formed in each sub-division. These committees will inspect stalls and review safety protocols, following which district magistrates will issue the necessary approvals for the sale of fireworks.

Only fireworks bearing the hallmark of either the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) or the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) will be allowed for sale at these fairs, as per the regulations. Additionally, the sound limit for any fireworks sold must not exceed 125 decibels.

A state official also confirmed that special testing centers will be set up to check whether fireworks meet the prescribed safety and sound limits. These centers will be manned by experts from the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), who will work in coordination with local committees to monitor compliance.

The fairs will take place at key locations including the Maidan and Tala Park in Kolkata and district towns like Barasat, Malda, Balurghat, Medinipur, and Suri. These temporary markets will operate a few days before Kali Puja and Diwali, giving citizens ample time to purchase fireworks that adhere to the state's safety guidelines.