February 8th 2025.
On a fateful Friday afternoon, a blast at an illegal firecracker factory in Kalyani, West Bengal's Nadia district has left four people dead. This tragic event has raised questions about the implementation of the "Clusters of Green Firecrackers Factories" proposal, which was introduced by the state government almost two years ago after a similar blast in Egra, East Midnapore district in May 2023 claimed nine lives.
After the Egra blast, the state government convened a crucial cabinet meeting where they decided to form a high-power committee to explore the possibility of creating clusters for firecracker production. These clusters would be located in one district each and would exclusively manufacture "green" or environmentally-friendly firecrackers. In June 2023, the government announced that they would set up 18 such clusters throughout the state and cover 90% of the cost.
It was also declared that the land for these clusters had already been identified and work would commence within two months. However, after almost two years, with another blast occurring in Kalyani, doubts have been raised about the implementation of these clusters. While the state government officials remain silent on the matter, opposition parties and environmental activists are calling the proposal a mere publicity stunt in the face of tragedy.
Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, believes that the cluster proposal was merely a ploy by the state administration to divert attention from the Egra blast in May 2023. He claims that nothing has changed since then and that after every tragedy, the government resorts to temporary measures that are eventually forgotten.
Md Salim, a CPI-M Politburo member and state Secretary, expressed concerns about the type of explosives being manufactured at the Kalyani factory. He believes that there is a deliberate attempt by the authorities to confuse firecrackers with bombs whenever such blasts occur.
Somendra Mohan Ghosh, a green technologist and environmentalist based in Kolkata, has raised serious concerns about the unfulfilled promises made by the authorities regarding the designated clusters. He also points out the lack of regulation and oversight, and inadequate safety measures as major contributing factors to the tragedy at Kalyani.
In conclusion, the recent blast at an illegal firecracker factory in Kalyani has not only claimed lives but also brought to light the shortcomings of the proposed "Clusters of Green Firecrackers Factories". It is crucial for the government to take responsibility and ensure the implementation of these clusters to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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