Noise pollution rules went for a toss yet again in the city during Kali Puja. More than 700 people were arrested since Friday for violating pollution guidelines by bursting banned firecrackers and playing loud music beyond the stipulated hours.

Kolkata Police arrested 328 people for bursting banned firecrackers while as many as 389 were arrested for committing misdemeanours till this morning. The Pollution Control Board PCB did the rounds at various hospitals last night.

ldquo;We are closely watching hospitals and their vicinity.Many people were arrested for bursting firecrackers in and around hospitals and private nursing homesrdquo; said a PCB official.

The PCB officials however said that no major complaint was lodged till last night. But minor complaints started pouring in at their control room since Thursday night they disclosed.

Kolkata Police had notified that nobody can burst firecrackers after 10 p.m which was violated by many people. They were found to be merrymaking well past midnight on Saturday.

People from Jadavpur Kasba Kidderpore Salt Lake and other places had lodged complaints in their nearest police station after being disturbed by the noise generated from firecrackers and loud speakers. Residents of New Alipore and its adjoining areas complained that people were bursting crackers for the past two nights after 10 p.m.

ldquo;I could not sleep till midnight because of the loud noise of firecrackers. I informed the local police but they failed to catch the miscreants who were bursting the banned fire crackersrdquo; said Anil Bose a resident of Kasba.

There were also complaints of misbehaviour with local residents. Many complainants alleged that cultural functions organised by local puja committees had continued way beyond 10 p.m.

An official manning the PCB control room said they had informed the local police stations and the control room at Lalbazar.

ldquo;There were instances of complainants calling back as the concerned police stations did not take any action. Some complainants however thanked us after action was takenrdquo; a senior PCB official said. The PCB is also monitoring the air quality.

Special air quality measuring equipment have been installed at various locations of the city. PCB officials will roam across the city in teams to check if banned crackers are being burst.

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