The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : SC order goes up in smoke

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 07, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

SC order goes up in smoke

K.V. Subramanya

BANGALORE: Even though the Supreme Court has imposed restrictions on bursting of fire crackers to check sound and air pollution, enforcing them has become practically impossible for the police.

Almost six years ago, the Supreme Court issued directions to all State Governments to reduce noise and air pollution levels particularly during Deepavali and also to prevent any kind of accident caused due to bursting crackers.

According to the directions, the manufacture, sale or use of fire crackers generating noise levels exceeding normal levels should be prohibited. The use of firecrackers should not be permitted between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

However, senior police officers are of the view that enforcing these guidelines is practically impossible. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Bipin Gopalakrishna told The Hindu that they do not have the equipment to measure the sound generated by crackers. In the absence of necessary equipment and training, it is not possible for the police to ascertain whether the sound generated by a particular fire cracker has exceeded the normal level, Mr. Gopalakrishna said.

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