BENGALURU: Bengaluru’s nights are no longer silent, with loud firecrackers and explosives shattering the peace regularly. A legal notice served on Friday to the city’s top police officials alleges a breakdown in enforcing rules.
The notice, issued on behalf of MG Devasahayam, a retired senior IAS officer aged about 85, is addressed to Commissioner of Police Seemanth Kumar Singh, Banaswadi Station House officer Sudarshan and DG&IGP MA Saleem. It says blasts typically begin at or after 10pm and continue past midnight, sometimes until dawn, in Lingarajapuram and neighbouring localities. The sound of explosives carries over long distances.
In its 2005 judgment on noise pollution, the Supreme Court imposed a complete ban on sound-emitting firecrackers between 10pm and 6am. The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and a Karnataka government circular of May 10, 2022, reiterate their prohibition and direct police to enforce it.
According to the notice, Devasahayam first complained by email to the Commissioner on August 12, with copies to senior officials. Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh twice forwarded the complaint for action, on August 12 and September 1. Reminders and WhatsApp messages followed through September and October, many without reply.
After he cited Supreme Court directions on September 28, the SHO and two assistant sub-inspectors visited his home and assured him that the culprits would be identified and stringent action taken. Instead, matters worsened. On the night of October 3, loud bombs were burst continuously from about 10:30pm until 6am.
On the intervening night of October 24-25, blasts went on from 11pm to about 5am. The notice says the noise, smoke and fumes, aggravated by respiratory ailments, have left the octogenarian with severe headaches, hypertension and anxiety.
The senior citizen is not alone. Popular actress and former MP Ramya aka Divya Spandana, took to X to voice her anger and frustration over loud crackers near Palace Grounds in North Bengaluru. She lamented the discomfort and pain to people when such noise erupts at 3am, a sentiment echoed by residents across the city, from the sick and elderly to working people whose health and productivity suffer from broken sleep.
The notice demands strict nightly enforcement across Bengaluru within three days, written directions to all DCPs, ACPs and SHOs, identification of offenders and FIRs where offences are made out, regular Hoysala night patrols, action against illegal sale and storage of firecrackers, a designated officer at Banaswadi Police Station, an inquiry into the lapses, and an action taken report.
Failing compliance, Devasahayam said he will approach the Karnataka High Court under Article 226 seeking a writ of mandamus and compensation, and the Supreme Court for wilful disobedience of its directions, besides the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission and Pollution Control Board. With Deepavali approaching, residents fear the midnight din will only grow.
Only green crackers this festive season: Reddy
Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Friday urged people to buy only green crackers this festive season and burst them between 8pm and 10pm. Reddy said the Supreme Court’s directions in this regard must be adhered to. There is a ban on bursting crackers after these hours. All efforts must be made to reduce air and noise pollution. Crackers must not be burst near health and educational institutions and other prohibited areas. Local bodies and the police department should ensure that these rules are followed by all. Reddy said directions have been given to officials of the departments concerned and district administrations to ensure that only green crackers with proper certification and verification are sold. He said the officials have been directed to inspect places where crackers are stored and sold. The officials have also been directed to confiscate crackers that fail to meet pollution norms and the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
