SOP for Organizing Domestic or Community Festivals/ Celebrations/ Pujas

BEFORE THE WEST BENGAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
“Paribesh Bhawan”, Bldg. No. 10A, LA Block, Sector-III, Bidhannagar, Kolkata- 700106.
E-mail: net.wbpcb-wb@bangla.gov.in; Website: www.wbpcb.gov.in

No: 378-2L/WPB-H(X)/2022 Date: 17/10/2023

CIRCULAR

Circular of Standard Operating Procedure for organizing domestic or community Festivals/ Celebrations/ Pujas in the State of West Bengal for ensuring environmental norms in compliance with Order dated 07/08/2023 of the Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta passed in WPO(P)/5/2022 and considering appeal of the environmentalists.

The object of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to protect the environment from pollutions which may be caused during festivals/ celebration/ pujas. Organizers of events should keep in mind various statutory provisions of environmental norms for compliance so that the environment may be protected from air, water and other pollutions.

• Microphones to be used and operated after obtaining permission from the concerned police authorities or district authorities and to abide by all the terms and conditions fixed up by the police authorities or the district authorities at the time of granting such permission.
• Microphones to be used or operated fixing ‘Sound Limiter’ with the amplifier system (for maintaining ambient noise standard as specified for different areas as per the relevant Acts & Rules.
• The Noise levels in any area/ zone shall not exceed the ambient noise level standards which reads as follows:

• Day time from 6 am to 10 pm & Night Time 10 pm to 6 am.
• The noise level at the boundary of the public place where loudspeakers or public address system or any other noise source is being used shall not exceed 10 dB(A) above the ambient noise standards for the area or 75 dB(A) whichever is lower.
• The peripheral noise level of a privately owned sound system or a sound producing instrument shall not at the boundary of private place exceeds by more the 5 dB(A) the ambient noise standards specified for the area on which it is used.
• No microphone to be used or operated within ‘Silence Zone’ areas, i.e. within 100 meters of any educational institution, hospital, nursing home or court areas.
• No noise making green firecrackers as per the formulation of CSIR – NEERI, which generates noise more than 125 dB(A) and light emitting green firecrackers above 90 dB(A) measured at a distance of 4 meters from the point of bursting will be allowed.
• No Disk Jockey Set (D.J)/ Hi-pitch sound box to be used in open air/ during the procession of immersion of idols.
• Bursting of only green crackers may be allowed for (i) two hours during Deepawali festival from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ii) two hours during Chatt Puja from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. (iii) 35 minutes during Christmas & New years’ Eve from 11:55 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Other than the above specified festivals, prior permission of the District Magistrates/ Commissioners of Police/ Superintendents of Police shall be taken for use of only green crackers for a limited period (not more than two hours).

The organizers of community puja have to obtain prior permission from Police Authority.

• Provisions of the West Bengal Prevention and Control of Water Pollution (Procedure for Immersion of Idol after Pujas) Rules, 2018 are to be followed.
• Provisions of Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and subsequent amendments are to be followed.
• Making of Idols to be done using clay and biodegradable materials only;
• No Plaster of Paris to be used in Idol making.
• The use of natural dyes/ colours and biodegradable materials is to be explored for decoration of idols;
• No synthetic paint or colour containing toxic heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead and chromium to be used in Idol making;
• The height of idol to be limited to 20 ft;
• The height of the super structure to be limited to 40ft.
• No polystyrene (thermocol) to be used for decoration.
• No plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns to be used.
• No Single Use Plastic (SUP) including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene commodities to be used.
• The offerings, like flowers and leaves etc. will be deposited in the Bins, Places or Pits as arranged by the concerned local authorities on the banks of rivers, ponds, water bodies.
• The worship materials like flowers, vastras (clothes), other decorating materials made of paper and plastic should be removed before immersion of idols and biodegradable materials shall have been collected separately for disposal in sanitary land-fills.
• Immersion of idols will take place in accordance with the scheduled dates fixed up by the Police Authorities or by the District Authorities as the case may be.

Organizer of the events shall be liable for any violation of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and authority may impose penalty/ initiate penal action under relevant Acts & Rules for such violation.

This Circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under section 33A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under section 31A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

By order

Member Secretary
West Bengal Pollution Control Board