March 4: A government fair in Baguiati has used loudspeakers even 2km away from the venue, violating its own rule banning loudspeakers during board exams.
The three-day agricultural fair at Narayantala West off VIP Road kicked off this morning with agriculture minister Purnendu Bose lighting the inaugural lamp in the presence of Trinamul MPs Saugata Roy and Dola Sen and several government officials.
The inauguration continued for more than two hours, the voices of senior leaders and others blasting through the loudspeakers.
The Madhyamik exams concluded yesterday but the ISC exams are on. The class XII board exams started on January 30 and will end on April 26.
A student of Purwanchal Vidyamandir in Kankurgachi, who lives in Baguiati, said his ISC exams were on but he couldn't concentrate on his studies because of the blasts from loudspeakers since morning.
"My math paper is on March 15. I will also take the joint entrance exam. It's unfortunate that my preparations are being hampered at this crucial time," the 18-year-old said.
The teenager's father said his son had asked why he didn't file a police complaint. "I want to do it but I am scared," he said.
A 2009 state environment department notification says: "Use of loudspeakers in open area is strictly prohibited before three days of commencement of secondary and higher secondary examinations and till completion of such examination."
The rule is applicable to Class X and XII central board exams as well, several experts said.
If the loudspeakers are used till Monday when the fair is scheduled to end, the notification would be violated on another count. The CBSE Class X and XII exams will start from Thursday, that's less than three days.
Metro phoned minister Bose thrice this afternoon but he didn't take the calls.
Apart from the lanes in Narayantala West, the stretch of VIP Road till Kaikhali is dotted with loudspeakers at short gaps.
Gitanath Ganguly, a former high court-appointed special officer to monitor noise pollution, said it was illegal to use loudspeakers during board exams. "They cannot use loudspeakers till the exams end," he said.
The person who introduced the guests at the inauguration even appealed to residents "to whom the sound of these loudspeakers are reaching" to visit the fair ground.
At the inauguration, Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen announced the three-day schedule that has a cultural programme every evening.
"Adivasi singers will perform on Saturday. Sounak Chattopadhyay will perform on Sunday and Dohar will come on Monday. Moreover, Kalachand Baul will be there on all three days," she said.
Minister Bose said the reason behind organising the fair in Baguiati was to make urban people more interested in agriculture. "There is a housing complex in Rajarhat that has grown various types of vegetables on the terrace. Urban people should take an interest and realise that producing vegetables on the terrace is possible."
