West Bengal Pollution Control Board Files Suit Against State Government Over Illegal Firecracker Entities

The issue of illegal firecracker entities in West Bengal has escalated into a major dispute between the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) and the state government. Following a recent explosion at a warehouse in Duttapukur that claimed nine lives, the chief legal officer of WBPCB has filed a suit in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) accusing the state government of not taking action against over 5,500 illegal entities, including manufacturing factories and warehouses.

The petition alleges that the state government’s negligence has led to accidents at illegal firecracker outlets over the past few years. The WBPCB also questions why the government hasn’t promoted the establishment of more green-cracker manufacturing units to prevent such incidents. According to WBPCB statistics, 86 people have died in blasts at illegal firecracker units in the last 12 years in West Bengal.