File picture of a concert in Bhubaneswar

Cuttack, Sept. 26: Police have decided to act tough on orchestra groups and band parties flouting the sound limit restrictions during Dusshera here.

Senior officials said music systems of the violators would be seized and the group would be blacklisted.

The decision comes in the wake of allegations of violation by orchestra and band parties during the Ganesh Puja in the city last month.

Sources said many clubs and band parties used DJs during cultural programmes and also violated the 65-decibel norm during the immersion ceremony last month.

“We have decided to blacklist band parties and deny issue licence to groups that violate the 65-decibel limit during the immersion ceremony as well as any cultural programmes during Dussehra,” said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.

Arora said the sound limiters were introduced following high court orders in 2011. However, a large number of orchestra and band parties have begun flouting these norms and this came to notice during Ganesh Puja celebrations this year.

Thus, all orchestra and band parties have been instructed to get their sound limiters checked at the deputy commissioner of police office to seek licence during the festive season.

At present, there are 438 registered sound limiters with various band parties in Cuttack.

The move comes after it was observed that the band parties were allegedly tampering the sound limiters or not using such instruments during programmes in the city.

Besides, the band parties have also been directed not to use six loudspeakers during the immersion ceremony.

Earlier, a single band party used more than 20 loudspeakers mounted on a single vehicle during immersion. This will be banned this year.

“We have asked the band parties and orchestra groups not to place all six loud speakers at one place but separately. We will not allow DJ systems during the immersion ceremony,” Arora added.

Senior officials said any instrument or sound limiter found to be tampered with would be seized and no licence would be issued to the musical group next year.

“We have been following the norms but a lot of groups from outside do not have the sound limiters and they usually are hired by a lot of puja committees. This is creating problems for all the registered ones,” said Shyam Kumar, working president of the melody association in Cuttack.