Now, noise limiters must for renting out sound systems

Tarun Goswami | MP | 1 Jun 2017 | Kolkata: The agencies providing sound systems to hold musical soirees and political meetings will have to mandatorily install noise limiters.

The state Pollution Control Board (PCB) has already taken up the matter with WEBEL and each noise limiter will cost anything between Rs 6,000 and Rs 7,000. WEBEL will start marketing the device soon, said Kalyan Rudra, PCB chairman. The device will reduce the decibel level automatically.

The Environment department, meanwhile, has sent instructions to all the District Magistrates, commissioner of police of different commissionarates and superintendents of police to take stern action against those who will flout noise pollution norms. Arnab Roy, principal secretary of Environment department has issued the instruction. The instruction was taken after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged PCB to take action against the DJs at the administrative review meeting of North 24 Parganas held at Barrackpore on May 30.

Banerjee had said at the meeting that DJs are engaged by local clubs and people and play loud speakers flouting the stipulated decibel level. "We must control this. You cannot force others to suffer because of your pleasure," she maintained.

PCB has 11 regional offices and all the district magistrates have been asked to look into encroachment on water bodies and noise pollution.

The permissible decibel limit in the industrial zone during day and night is 75 decibel and 70 decibel respectively. Similarly, in commercial and residential zones, the permissible limits are 65 decibel and 55 decibel during daytime and 55 decibel and 45 decibel at night. In silence zones, it is 50 decibel during day and 40 decibel at night. The daytime schedule is applicable between 6 am and 10 pm and the nigh schedule is applicable from 10 pm to 6 am.

The PCB has intensified its vigil in the silent zones like hospitals and areas around High Court and Assembly House.

Banerjee has asked PCB to take stringent measure against those who flout noise pollution norms. PCB will release State Environment Report (SOE) on June 5 during the World Environment Day.

Sovan Chatteerjee, state Environment minister will release the book. The 400-page book will contain essays on pollution, issues related to land, waterbody, air and bio-diversity.

PCB has taken up steps to create awareness against environment pollution. Booklets will be distributed among the students of state-run schools on June 5 and prgrammes will be held throughout the state.