Cuttack, Aug. 14: Police will take to task Ganesh Puja organisers who fail to abide by noise pollution rules.
The organisers have been asked to maintain permissible decibel limits while playing sound systems.
"The sound pollution rules will be strictly enforced to restrict sound emission levels to 65 decibels during Ganesh Chaturthi. The police will take stringent action if any person or organisation is found to be violating the noise pollution norm," Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Akhileswar Singh told The Telegraph.
"No use of loudspeakers, public address systems, multi-sound systems by melody groups on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi will be allowed after 10pm," Singh said.
Noise pollution on Ganesh Chaturthi has continued to increase in the city with the rise in the number of idols coming up as more youngsters and youth clubs are found celebrating the occasion in recent years. The number had reportedly gone up from around 700 in 2013 to over 1,300 in 2016.
There have been complaints about the nuisance and inconvenience caused due to unrestricted use of loudspeakers and public address systems at public places where idols come up across the city. The complaints raise concern over the noise pollution level exceeding the prescribed limits.
Lawyer and social activist Pravat Ranjan Dash said: "With so many idols and mandaps coming up, the noise pollution level is very high during Ganesh Chaturthi - when the average level goes up to over 100 decibel."
"Special police patrolling teams will keep an eye on adherence to the noise pollution norms," said assistant commissioner of police Asim Mishra.
"Besides, we will conduct an awareness drive among various melody groups and bands about the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and the restrictions in it for use of loudspeakers and public address systems," Mishra said.
The police have also started a move to ensure CCTV coverage of places where Ganesh idols will be installed to keep tabs on criminal activities. "We are trying to persuade all big and medium organisers to install CCTV cameras," the ACP said.
