Despite the customary post-Diwali smog that enveloped the city, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma asserted that the city fared better in terms of pollution compared to other major urban centers. His comments came following the Deepavali festival, which saw an increase in air pollution, raising concerns about Kolkata turning into a “gas chamber.”

Monitoring Pollution Levels

The Air Quality Index (AQI), a measure indicating how polluted the air is, showed varying levels across the city late Monday night. According to data provided by the central authorities, the AQI at midnight on Monday was recorded at 227 in the Victoria Memorial area, 190 in Bidhannagar (Salt Lake), 166 in Ballygunge, and 198 in Jadavpur. Lower readings were noted near Rabindra Bharati at 134 and in Belur at 166.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards:

0 to 50 is considered Good.
51 to 100 is Satisfactory/Moderate.
101 to 200 is Moderate.
201 to 300 is Poor.
301 to 400 is Very Poor.

The recorded figures placed several areas of Kolkata in the ‘Poor’ to ‘Moderate’ categories.

Police Action and Enforcement

Prior to the Kali Puja/Diwali festivities, Commissioner Verma had issued

a strict warning in a coordination meeting against the use of banned loud firecrackers, stating that the administration would take harsh action against those violating the rules.

In line with this warning, police made significant arrests. A total of *183 people* were arrested on Monday for either bursting or selling banned loud firecrackers. Furthermore, *451 people* were arrested for violating various other rules and regulations. The authorities also seized a total of *852 kg* of banned firecrackers.

Commissioner’s Statement on Pollution

Addressing the concerns over the widespread use of banned noisy firecrackers throughout the night, Commissioner Manoj Verma highlighted the city’s position relative to the rest of the country.

“We maintained surveillance until the evening. Even then, compared to the rest of India, the pollution level in Kolkata was significantly lower,” the Police Commissioner stated. “While we still need to analyze the reports from 10 PM and 12 AM, I can state that compared to last year and other major cities in the country, the noise pollution and air pollution in Kolkata have been much lower.”

Despite the Commissioner’s assurance, some city residents voiced their distress. One individual commented on the persistent noise, saying, “A lot of firecrackers went off. I know it’s a festival, but so many firecrackers shouldn’t be burst. I could feel the pollution constantly even while inside the house. Everything looked hazy with smoke.”

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