Tripura government on Monday urged the people of the state to keep the environment pollution-free on the occasion of the upcoming festivities of  Durga Puja, Laxmipuja, and Kali Puja (Diwali festival).

Addressing a press conference at the Civil Secretariat on Monday evening Science, Technology, and Environment Minister Animesh Debbarma along with officials  urged everyone to keep the environment pollution-free.

He said during Durga Puja  days (September 29, 2025 – October 2, 2025), Laxmipuja (October 6, 2025), and Kali Puja (October 21, 2025)  no microphone, loud speakers and other music systems cannot be played from night 12 AM to morning 6 AM. Hospitals, educational institutions, and courts within a 100-meter radius must not be disturbed and  Loudspeakers cannot be used after 12 PM and  the sale, use, and display of firecrackers above the permitted sound limit of 90 decibels are prohibited.

As per the guidelines issued by the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment October 30, 2018, playing microphones or burning firecrackers cannot be done within 100 meters of hospitals, educational centers and courts. The storage, sale and use of firecrackers that produce noise above 90 decibels has been completely banned.

The Minister said that only those firecrackers mentioned in the rules regarding the manufacture, sale and burning of firecrackers issued by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment on 30-10-2018 and approved by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization can be burned from 8 PM to 10 PM on festival days.

 In order to play the microphone during the puja and various cultural events after the puja, prior permission must be obtained from the concerned sub-division police officer. Chemicals like plaster of Paris and synthetic colors containing heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead and chromium) cannot be used to make the idols. Degradable natural colors can be used. The height of the idols cannot be more than 24 feet and the maximum height of the puja pandal cannot be more than 40 feet.

The idols must be immersed on the specified day and at the specified place as per the rules of the district administration, municipal corporation, municipal council and Nagar Panchayat and the rules of immersion must be followed by clubs and organizations, said Debbarma.

In order to use a microphone in vehicles used for idol immersion, prior permission must be obtained from the concerned authorities and the sound level must be kept within the prescribed limits. As per a notification issued by the Tripura government, the use of sound limiters is mandatory in all types of sound systems/public address systems, said Debbarma.

Banned single-use plastic materials or materials made of thermoplastics cannot be used in making puja mandap and idols, distributing prasad and other puja-related activities.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Environment appealed to everyone to use only environment-friendly materials and sought everyone's awareness and cooperation. During the press conference Chaitanya Murthy, Principal Secretary of Science, Technology and Environment department,  Dr. K. Sasikumar, Chairman, Pollution Control Board, DM of West Tripura district  Dr Vishal Kumar and SP (West) Namit Pathak were also present.