Rampant waste burning continues across the city even as air quality remains poor, and the authorities look the other way. The small fires along the pathway near Raj Bhavan were predominantly made up of dry leaves and some plastic waste. According to an official from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), there exists a ban on the open burning of waste. Since the police are on the road for more hours, they are better placed to spot open burning of waste. People think that burning leaves keeps them warm in winter, but they must be told about its negative impact on health,” said Samaddar.

Source: The Telegraph January 05, 2026 02:27 UTC