Kolkata: In a major administrative move aiming to dismantle Bengal’s long-standing culture of unfettered acoustic violence, the state environment department of the newly-formed state govt has issued a notification to strictly regulate the use of microphones and loudspeakers in open spaces.For years, anti-noise crusaders have lamented that the state’s efforts were largely performative, confined primarily to Diwali monitoring while rampant violations continued unabated on other days of the year. The lack of political will allowed a dangerous pattern to thrive across urban centers and rural hinterlands: the proliferation of excess ‘DJ music’ rigs. In these setups, giant sound boxes are stacked on commercial vehicles, blasting low-frequency bass powerful enough to break residential window panes and windscreens of vehicles.The unexpected administrative rigour has sent waves of optimism through green collectives who have spent decades fighting legislative apathy. “For the first time, we are seeing genuine political will aligned with statutory law,” said Naba Dutta, a green activist from ‘Sabuj Mancha.’“Historically, enforcement was seasonal and symbolic. This notification targets the main cause—the absolute lawlessness of open-air DJ columns and mandatory noise-limiters. If enforced properly, this gives us immense hope to permanently cure the state’s chronic noise illness,” he said.The state govt has explicitly empowered regional police units and commissionerates to act as the primary enforcers. Local police stations are held accountable for lapses within their territorial limits.“We have received the blueprint from the environment department and are translating it into stricter field protocols,” said a senior Kolkata Police official, requesting anonymity. “The mandate is unambiguous. Officers are being equipped with digital devices to conduct random spot checks. Any sound system operating without a valid permit, violating the curfew, or lacking an integrated sound-limiter will be summarily seized, and penal action will be taken,” he added.Spokespersons for the ruling state administration emphasized that the policy marks a definitive shift from past leniency, prioritizing public health over commercial and political noise production. “Noise pollution is not a trivial nuisance; it is a severe public health hazard,” a senior official from the department said.“This government is committed to restoring civil order. The police have been given autonomous authority for strict monitoring and enforcement,” he said. The official stated that no mercy would be shown toward violators.
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