The Agartala city police has achieved success in the crackdown operation against high decibel fire crackers to control noise pollution during festive days of Laxmi Puja, which will continue up to celebration of Diwali.

Separate teams from West Tripura district police led by SP, Kiran Kumra started their crackdown operation in various parts of the Agartala city including in Kaman Chowmuhani, Maharaj Ganj Bazar, Central Road, Battala Bazar, Durga Chowmuhani and other areas of the district against the storage and selling of firecrackers, which have above 90 decibel sound capacity since Thursday evening (October 17).

While speaking with media persons, SP(West) Kiran Kumar said that hundreds boxes of high decibel firecrackers worth of rupees lakhs were seized from various shops in the city and owners of these shops were given stringent instruction to stop their sale of high decibel fire crackers. Similarly, other police stations of the district have also seized large quantities of firecrackers, which are violating the instructions of the High Court.

Official sources said that Tripura State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) along with district and sub divisional administration has also started their crackdown operation against high decibel firecrackers from Tuesday (October 15) morning to control the noise pollution on day of Laxmi Puja.

TSPCB sources   said that several crackdown teams including the team of State Pollution Control Board conducted their search and surveillance operation in all districts of the state including capital city of Agartala against sound-pollution and it will continue till the end of Diwali festival.

However, TSPCB has earlier issued a notification for banning and selling of extra-loud firecrackers, which are above 90 decibel of sound capacity during the celebration of Laxmi Puja and ensuing Diwali.

In case of violation of the rules, the administration will take stringent steps against the violators, said TSPCB sources.

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.