Bengaluru: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a draft notification allowing use of loudspeakers till midnight during festive occasions, but the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board maintained that it will oppose the move.
Residents of Kumaraswamy Layout, HSR Layout and many other areas had sleepless nights as loudspeakers kept blaring beyond the permissible 10 pm time limit. They also complained that pandals were put up in the middle of the road, obstructing traffic and pedestrians, and in absolute violation of civic norms.
Kumaraswamy Layout, which has Dayananda Sagar Institutions, has a lot of students staying there. Ear-piercing noise from loudspeakers impacted their studies. “The pandal was erected right in front of our paying guest accommodation and songs were played at high volume. How can anyone study or sleep peacefully? We had holidays, but the loudspeakers did not let us either study or sleep,” said Vivek, an engineering student.
The encroachment of road in the name of pandals was another issue that troubled the road users. An auto driver, on condition of anonymity, said, “Everyone is entitled to celebrate the festival, but it does not mean you block the roads and affect the flow of traffic. Already, the roads are jammed and traffic worsens when pandals are put up.”
A consultant with the Centre for Sustainable Development, Mr Mahesh Kashyap, questioned the use of loudspeakers during the festival. “No one has measured the decibel levels of blaring loudspeakers during day and night, but it certainly troubles the residents. Keeping in mind the impact of high volume on infants and patients, loudspeakers should not be allowed.”
BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath told Deccan Chronicle that the civic authority does not allow setting up of pandals in the middle of the road. “Organisers can set up pandals on one side of the road, so that the pedestrians can move and there is a natural flow of traffic. Blocking the entire road is unacceptable,” he said.
