Cooch Behar, Sept 13: The Sagardighi Square in the heart of this town has been declared a silence zone by the district administration with ban on loudspeakers, vehicle horns and firecrackers.

The district magistrate, P. Ulaganathan, invoked noise pollution rules under the Environment Protection Act to issue the order on Friday.

"The entire Sagardighi area and 100 metres from it has been declared a silence zone. Use of loudspeakers and public address systems, loud vehicle horns and the bursting of crackers are banned," Ulaganathan said.

Sagardighi, a large waterbody that attracts migratory birds during the winter, is surrounded by the district court, several government offices, including the collectorate, as well as educational institutions like Sunity Academy and Sadar Government High School.

While the ruling Trinamul has welcomed the move, opposition parties said the Sagardighi area, especially the Shahid Bag, was a traditional spot for holding protests and rallies.

Asked whether rallies could be held in the area, Ulaganathan said: "This area has been declared a silence zone. However, rallies can be held without the use of loudspeakers and public address systems."

He said boards declaring the Sagardighi Square as a silence zone were being put up.