CUTTACK : Acting on a PIL, a division bench of Orissa High Court comprising Chief Justice Amitava Roy and Justice AK Ratha on Tuesday directed the State Government advocate to submit information on the action taken by the Government on prevention of sound pollution and bursting of crackers during Diwali festival.
Drawing attention of the court towards indiscriminate sale of crackers with sound levels beyond permissible limits, the petitioner advocate Siva Shankar Mohanty appealed for a complete ban on manufacture, distribution and sale of such explosives.
He alleged blatant violation of the Sound Pollution (Control) Rules due to lack of enforcement by Government and authorities concerned. Though silence zones have been categorised in the Twin City since 2002, till date the administrative instructions have not been given effect to. As per norms, crackers emitting more than 120 decibel sound along with those causing noise for an extended period are banned. But these are sold openly. The petitioner appealed for an order to the Government to not only enforce the ban but also confiscate the crackers which cross sound limits.