The din on Diwali might not lessen this year after all. There seems to be no one to curb the sale and manufacture of firecrackers with dangerous noise levels, with the Department of Explosives (DOE), a central government agency, and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) starting a blame game over the issue.

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For the last few years, anti-noise pollution activists have been trying to get the government to restrict the manufacture and sale of excessively loud fire crackers. In response, the MPCB started a campaign across the state, but focused largely on Mumbai. MPCB officials maintain they can do little else apart from measuring noise levels in the city, for it is the DOE that gives permission for the sale of  crackers. Crackers can’t enter the city without the DOE’s permission.

MPCB claims that it had recorded noise levels from firecrackers in different parts of the city. The reports on the noise levels were sent to the DOE, along with information about the crackers that exceeded the acceptable levels.

The DOE claims they haven’t received any reports from MPCB yet.

“We can’t measure the noise levels of the crackers, but if the MPCB sends a report, we will definitely take action. We will suspend the licence of the manufacturers of such firecrackers. But we need proof that there has been a violation of noise restrictions before we can take action,” said RK Maindola, deputy chief controller of explosives, DOE.

However, MPCB officials allege that in the past, the DOE has not taken action against firecracker manufacturers even after being given the report of noise levels. “I don’t know how any DOE official can say this. First of all, it is not our job to test the noise levels of firecrackers, but we did it and sent the report to DOE. We do not know what action they took,” said Sanjay Bhuskute, PRO, MPCB.