Hoshiarpur (Daljit Ajnoha):- District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain, exercising the powers conferred under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has issued orders prohibiting the use of equipment and musical devices that cause noise pollution, excessive noise, loud sounds or disturbance in the district.
This prohibition will not apply to coloured firecrackers and sparklers. Similarly, the use of pressure horns, musical horns and any other horns in vehicles that produce noise pollution, loud sounds or excessive noise will be completely prohibited. Only horns approved by the government, which do not cause noise pollution, may be used at the prescribed sound levels.
Furthermore, the playing of loud music, noise-producing sound systems and obscene songs in non-government buildings, commercial shops, public places, cinemas, malls, hotels, restaurants and fairs will be strictly prohibited. Within a radius of 100 metres of silence zones, including ministries, forest areas, hospitals, educational institutions, courts, religious institutions and any area declared a silence zone by the competent authority, the use of fireworks, firecrackers, loudspeakers, pressure horns and other noise-producing equipment will be completely prohibited.
Similarly, under special circumstances and on specific occasions, organisers will not be allowed to use loudspeakers at religious places or in pandals, or DJs and orchestras at authorised marriage palaces, without obtaining written permission from the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, subject to the conditions laid down in the Punjab Instruments (Control of Noise) Act, 1956.
According to the orders, even after obtaining the required permission from the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, the sound level of loudspeakers, DJs, musical instruments, public address systems and other such equipment operated at any location must remain within the prescribed noise standards for that area, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.
The prescribed maximum noise limits are 75 dB(A) during the day and 70 dB(A) at night in industrial areas; 65 dB(A) during the day and 55 dB(A) at night in commercial areas; 55 dB(A) during the day and 45 dB(A) at night in residential areas; and 50 dB(A) during the day and 40 dB(A) at night in silence zones.
For the purpose of these restrictions, daytime means from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. These orders will not apply to government machinery or emergency situations. The orders will remain in force until January 7, 2027.
