Government of West Bengal
Department of Environment
Prani Sampad Bhawan, 5th Floor J.B-2, Sec-III, Salt lake City, Kolkata-106
No. EN/701/3C-17/2026 Dated, Kolkata 13th May, 2026
NOTIFICATION
WHEREAS the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India In Re: Noise Pollution case – Implementation of the Laws for restricting use of loud speakers and high volume producing sound systems, has stated that right to live in noise pollution free environment is part of right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Noise is more than just nuisance. It constitutes a real and present danger to people’s health. It has both auditory and non-auditory effects depending upon the intensity and the duration of the noise level. It affects sleep, hearing, communication, mental and physical health. It may even lead to madness. It can disturb our work, rest, sleep and communication and evoke other psychological and pathological reactions. Industries, automobiles, rail engines, aeroplanes, radios, loudspeakers, tape recorders and vendors are main ear contaminators. Nobody has a right to create noise by amplifying the sound of a speech;
AND WHEREAS the Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta time to time issued number of directions for controlling noise pollution from loudspeakers, public address system, fireworks, diesel generator set, vehicular horns including air horns and also from other sources;
AND WHEREAS in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3, 6 and 25 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Ministry of Environment & Forest has framed the Noise pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000 for regulation and control of noise producing and generating sources in which The State Government has been directed to take measures for abatement of noise pollution including use of loud-speakers or public address systems and sound producing instruments and to ensure that the existing noise levels do not exceed the ambient air quality standards specified under the said Rules, 2020;
AND WHEREAS the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone Bench in O.A. 158/2026/EZ emphasised on the strict implementation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 with special emphasis on the use of microphones/ Loudspeakers in open public places only with sound limiters;
AND WHEREAS the Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal vide its notification No. EN/3346/T-IV-6/001/2007(Pt-II) dated 29.12.2009 has assigned specific responsibility to the different Government departments and authorities for monitoring ambient noise levels as per the statutory provisions laid down under the said Rules, 2000;
AND WHEREAS West Bengal Pollution Control Board has issued directions, from time to time, to control noise pollution generated from the microphones and also fixed up permissible noise limits in different zones as prescribed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules made thereunder;
AND WHEREAS West Bengal Pollution Control Board vide Order No 1853-4K-5/2004 dated 27/08/2004 mandated all the users of microphones within the State of West Bengal to use sound limiter at the time of using microphones in the open area to monitor the noise and bring it under permissible limit as fixed up under the aforementioned Act and Rules;
AND WHEREAS the Noise pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000 has specified the ambient air quality standards in respect of noise –
| Area Code | Category of Area | Limit in dB(A) Day Time | Leq Night Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| (A) | Industrial area | 75 | 70 |
| (B) | Commercial area | 65 | 55 |
| (C) | Residential area | 55 | 45 |
| (D) | Silence Zone | 50 | 40 |
- Day time is reckoned in between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- Night time is reckoned in between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- ‘Silence Zone’ is an area comprising not less than 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions, courts, religious places or any other area which is declared as such by the competent authority.
- Mixed categories of areas may be declared as one of the four above mentioned categories by the competent authority.
AND WHEREAS the Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal vide Notification No. EN/238/3C-65/2019 (Part- I) dated 03/02/2020 and with subsequent amendment issued vide Memo No: EN/507/3C-65/2019 (Part-I) dated 04/03/2020 has directed all the traders and manufacturers of audio systems/ microphones within the State of West Bengal to mandatorily use audio systems/ microphones fitted with sound limiting device as per the Specifications and Standards notified by the West Bengal Pollution Control;
AND WHEREAS West Bengal Pollution Control Board issued circular vide Memo No: 378-2L/WPB-H(X)/2022 dated 17.10.2023 on Standard Operating Procedure for organizing domestic or community Festivals/ Celebrations/ Pujas in the State of West Bengal for ensuring environmental norms including use of microphones fixing sound limiter with amplifier system for maintaining ambient noise standard as specified for different areas as per the relevant Act & Rules;
AND WHEREAS it has been noticed that indiscriminate use of microphones/ loudspeakers in open public places within the Residential Area and Silence Zone is taking place flouting ambient noise level standards and also the time duration specified in the Schedule of the said Rules, 2000 in the State;
AND WHEREAS West Bengal Pollution Control Board have distributed sound metres to District Police/ Police Commissonerates for measuring ambient noise level standards emitting from loudspeakers/ microphones;
NOW THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 read with Rule3(2) and Rule3(3) of Noise (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000, as amended, with a view to regulate and control ambient noise levels while use of microphones/ loudspeakers in open public places within the Residential Area and Silence Zone, in addition to the previous notifications issued by this Department, the Governor is hereby pleased to direct that:
- Use of microphones/ loudspeakers in open public places strictly within the prescribed time limit i.e. between 6.00 a.m. to 10 p.m. following the ambient noise level standards.
- To obtain written permission from the concerned police authorities before using loudspeakers/ microphones in open area.
- Loudspeakers/ microphones shall not be used in open area at night (between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) except in closed premises for communication within auditoria, conference rooms, community halls and banquet halls or during a public emergency.
- The noise level at the boundary of the public place, where loudspeaker/ microphone is being used shall not exceed, 10dB(A) above the ambient noise standards specified for the area or 75dB(A) whichever is lower.
The Commissionerate of Police, Kolkata, Superintendent of Police and Police Commissionerate in their respective Districts shall be responsible for monitoring and implementation of this Notification and initiate action against the violators under extant laws.
This order will take immediate effect.
By Order of the Governor,
Additional Chief Secretary to the
Govt. of West Bengal