Imphal: Manipur's capital recorded a noise level of 75.4 decibels against the permissible limit of 65 decibels when a team of Manipur Pollution Control Board checked it at Keishampat here on Saturday.

The noise was checked between 11am and noon. The board is set to measure the noise level in different parts of Imphal and collect reports of vehicles that cause moise pollution till September 17. The drive was launched by the Board following a notification dated May 29, banning loud noise by vehicles.

The notification, signed by Board chairman L. Radhakishore Singh, says the ban has been imposed keeping in view the Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and to regulate noise-producing and generating sources.

The Board wrote to the director-general of police on Saturday, asking the police to seize vehicles with modified silencers that generate noise beyond the permissible limit. It said several vehicles with modified silencers that make loud noise ply in the state.

Radhakishore Singh warned that those who own noisy vehicles will be fined and punished according to law and even sentenced to jail for up to six months.

"Pollution will make people abnormal and we will not let the noise cross beyond the permissible limit," he said.

The report collected in 17 days will be submitted to the government.

"Imphal has both air and noise pollution. If we don't control it now, the city will face a big tragedy. We will act according to the report being collected to save Imphal from pollution," he said.

He appealed to the people to support the department in controlling pollution.

He said noise pollution is caused by old vehicles as well. The government has limited the life span of vehicles to 15 years but vehicles in use since the nineties are still plying in the city. "People fail to respond positively despite appeals not to use old vehicles. We are also taking action against users of old vehicles," Radhakishore said.

In a test conducted by the Board at BT Road, Governor Road and Maharani Bridge on January 15, BT Road had recorded 73.5 decibels and Governor Road 75.5 decibels.

The Board officials said diesel auto-rickshaws are one of the major contributors to the noise level crossing the permissible 65 decibels and also cause air pollution.