Ranchi: Loud music blaring from Durga Puja pandals has left residents across several neighbourhoods in many parts of the city distressed, with the elderly, people suffering from illnesses and patients in nearby hospitals also bearing the brunt of the noise.As preparations gather pace across the city, organisers and artisans are racing against time to complete pandals. However, incessant loud music from the venues has become a growing source of inconvenience for residents.Umesh Thakur, a Kokar resident, said a temple in his locality played loud music from Tuesday evening until late at night, disrupting daily life and making it difficult for students to concentrate on their studies.“I was afraid to confront the temple authorities as they might have argued with me and accused me of hurting religious sentiments. I contacted police to intervene, but they kept passing the responsibility from one local police station to another. However, the music was eventually stopped after some time,” Thakur said.Malti Devi, a Doranda resident, said, “We are not against devotional songs being played at pandals, but organisers must keep the volume low so that others are not disturbed. Prolonged exposure to loud music is particularly distressing for elderly people and those with health conditions.”Residents urged the administration and police to ensure that organisers follow prescribed noise limits and take prompt action against violations.Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) officer on special duty Sanjay Srivastava told TOI that noise pollution regulations remain in force throughout the year, irrespective of seasonal restrictions.“The board issues prohibitory orders on noise pollution from Diwali until the New Year celebrations every year. However, the prohibitions imposed under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, remain effective throughout the year, irrespective of the season. If residents find any violation, they can report it to law enforcement agencies, which will take action against violators as per norms,” Srivastava said.Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, ambient noise levels in residential areas must not exceed 55 decibels (dB) between 6 am and 10 pm and 45 dB between 10 pm and 6 am.
