Amidst cancellation of licenses and permits to sell or store conventional firecrackers during festivities by West Tripura district administration, which has only approved reduced-emission and green crackers, in a major crackdown ahead of Lakshmi Puja, the Sadar Sub-Divisional Administration, in collaboration with the Tripura State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB), conducted a joint drive against the sale of banned sound-emitting firecrackers across several markets in Agartala on Saturday, seizing nearly 50 kg of such crackers.
The enforcement drive was led by Additional Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Deepraj Deb, along with police personnel and officials of the Pollution Control Board.
During the operation, teams raided several prominent markets, including M.B. Tilla Market, Beltali Market, A.D. Nagar Market, Battala Market, Maharajganj Market, and other commercial areas in the city, where prohibited sound crackers were recovered.
Speaking to media persons, Additional SDM Deepraj Deb said that strict regulations are in place regarding the manufacture, sale and use of sound-emitting firecrackers. He added that the administration would continue its enforcement drives to ensure compliance with environmental norms and safeguard public health during the festive season.
The West Tripura district administration along with Sadar sub divisional administration and Tripura State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) will continue their crackdown operation against high decibel fire crackers to control noise pollution during festive days of Laxmi Puja and Diwali.
The team will intensify their crackdown operation against high decibel firecrackers from Sunday morning to control the noise pollution on day of Laxmi Puja.
Apart from these, the state pollution board also imposed a ban on bursting fire crackers in front of hospitals, educational institutions and courts during the celebration of Laxmi puja and Diwali festival across the state.