Notices have been issued in East Khasi Hills and West Jaiñtia Hills regarding excessive noise over the holiday period.
Without specifically mentioning any dates, the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills had banned the use of loudspeakers, public address systems and music systems between 10 pm and 6 am.
Organisers of events should maintain the ambient noise level within the prescribed limit of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 as amended, ie (A) in industrial areas emission of sound level is 75 dB(A) Leq during day time and 70 during night time, (B) in commercial areas emission of sound level is 65 dB(A) Leq during day time and 55 during night time, (C) in residential areas emission of sound level is 55 dB(A) Leq during day time and 45 during night time and (D) in silence zones the emission of sound level is 50 dB(A) Leq during day time and 40 during night time.
In West Jaiñtia Hills, the District Magistrate has allowed the bursting of fireworks from 11:55pm to 12:30am on Christmas and New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day.
The District Magistrate has also prohibited the sale, purchase and procurement of foreign-made firecrackers, use of joined firecrackers (series crackers or laris) which cause huge air, noise and solid waste problem, use of firecrackers generating noise level exceeding 125 dB (A1) or 145 dB (C) Pk at 4 metres distance from point of busting.
The order also prohibits bursting of firecrackers within 100m of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district healthcare centres, educational institutions, courts, religious places or any other areas that have been declared as silent zones by the authorities.
The District Magistrate said that the sale of firecrackers shall only be through licensed traders and they should sell only those firecrackers which have been permitted by the office of the district Deputy Commissioner and are in compliance with Central Pollution Control Board guidelines.
