The West Bengal Pollution Control Board and Kolkata Police deserve to be thanked for having ensured that the festival days are less noisy than usual. Of course, there have been a few cases of violation of sound control norms here and there. And the problem of air pollution in the Durgapur industrial areas has also been often highlighted. But in regard to noise pollution during Durga and Kali puja, the Board’s role has been, in general, praiseworthy.
What, however, raises doubt about the Board’s performance is that its stand sometimes seems to be discriminatory. The Board becomes active during festival days, but at other times prefers to remain passive. Again, a double standard marks the Board’s role even during festival times. As a resident of Salt Lake, this writer can cite two cases in support of this argument.
The Hyatt Regency on EM Bypass, adjacent to Salt Lake Stadium, has been causing sound pollution of a serious nature through daylong announcements over the loudspeaker. The announcements often continue till as late as one in the night. Repeated appeals by the local people to the hotel authorities and the PCB via telephone had no effect. Finally, in response to a petition signed by about 30 people, the Board intervened. At a meeting on 17 April attended by two representatives of the hotel and the present writer as a local resident, Biswajit Mukherjee, the senior law officer of the Board, strongly condemned the hotel management and asked the representatives to follow the required noise control norms. The hotel followed the instructions for a few months but began to violate them again, although not on a regular basis. In sum, it can be said that although there is a semblance of restoration of peace, the hotel lapses into its old form on special occasions, much to the discomfort of the local residents.
The second example is a case of noise pollution of an intolerable measure caused by the Dandia Raas festival at the stadium during Durga Puja. A regular feature since 1999, the function spreads over four to nine days. The problem became unbearable in 2000 when the organisers used microphones to full volume throughout the night for as many as nine days. Local residents repeatedly requested the organisers to control the volume of their microphones and also informed the PCB and the Salt Lake (South) Police Station of the problem but to no avail.
In 2001, however, the Board rose to the occasion and on the basis of a written objection by the local residents stopped the programme. But relief was short-lived. While no such programme was held at the stadium in 2002, it reappeared with gusto in 2003 to cause much discomfort for four days. This year, the event was held for a good nine days and, of course, in flagrant violation of noise control norms. This, despite a written objection submitted to the Board by local residents on 11 August, that is, about two months before the said festival. Again, on the second day of the festivities, that is, 15 October, this writer called the noise control cell of the Board to apprise them of the situation. As usual, a Board member said they would “look into the matter”. However, all efforts came to naught; the Dandia Raas festival threw noise control norms to the winds even as the Board and police watched.
So what compelled the Board to keep away from discharging its duties? Was it political pressure from above? Of course, it is a fact that a minister or a political leader sometimes “graces” the inauguration ceremony of this festival and in 2002 the organisers proudly said that one (political) “dada” was their patron.
It is also a fact that the Salt Lake stadium has now become more of a venue for various festivals, conferences and marriage parties than one for sporting events. Needless to say, these programmes hardly care about the norms laid down by the High Court as well as the Board.
The PCB is certainly aware of these cases of violation. But why can’t it take necessary action as it does on other occasions? The Board’s indifference also becomes discernible when in some areas nightlong kirtans are forced into the ears of the local people. Similarly, the use of microphones for chanting azans – which has run into a legal dispute – also continues.
As peace-loving citizens of a professedly secular, democratic country, we respect the rights of all communities and everybody will surely agree that this right cannot be allowed to be misused to cause trouble to others. May we expect the Pollution Control Board to withstand all external pressure (whatever be the source) and serve in a neutral manner the common people regardless of their religious, ethnic and political identities?
