Siliguri, Nov. 19: The Left Front-run Siliguri Municipal Corporation has imposed a ban on the use of microphones and loudspeakers during work ours on the SMC premises during demonstrations, drawing protest from Trinamul councillors who said they would not follow the order.

"We have issued a directive wherein the use of microphones and loudspeakers has been banned win the SMC area. Anybody is free to demonstrate, make peaceful protests and meetings on civic and other issues on the SMC premises but they would not be allowed to use microphones as it creates disturbance and disrupts regular activities at the civic body. The ban would be in force from 10.30am to 5.30pm everyday," mayor Asok Bhattacharya said here today.

The decision, sources said, follows a series of public meetings and demonstrations held by Trinamul on the SMC premises. Since May this year, when Bhattacharya assumed the charge, there has been at least 10 such demonstrations by Trinamul.

The opposition had used microphones and gone on criticising the Left board and the mayor, alleging miserable performance on their part to run the civic body and in providing basic civic services to people.

The mayor has also mentioned in the order that anybody could meet him to submit memorandums in his chamber but demonstrations and protests in the corridor in front of his office would not be allowed.

"My doors are open for 24 hours and I am always ready to accept memorandums from people. But putting posters outside the chamber or holding a sit-in demonstration in the corridor outside the chamber will not be allowed. We expect everybody to abide by the directive," he said, without clarifying what steps the civic body would take if there was any violation of the directive.

However, Trinamul councillors have threatened to carry out their movement on the SMC premises over civic issues.

"The mayor is trying to impose an undemocratic decision on us. So far, we have organised peaceful and democratic agitations and have informed him ahead of such programmes. But now that he has issued such a directive, we will carry out protests without informing him," Nantu Pal, the leader of opposition at the SMC, said.

Today, the mayor also alleged that he and the new sabhadhipati of Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad were kept away from government events and had not been included as members in agencies like Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority.

Pal said the mayor had no right to make such comments as he lacked the courtesy to inform the leader of opposition of the SMC about the date of monthly board meetings. "We also attend several programmes and meetings and in every month, we are informed at the last moment," said Pal.