Dhillon show: UT to take action if noise limit breached

The UT Administration will take action against the organiser of Punjabi singer AP Dhillon’s show if the permissible noise limit of 75 decibel was breached during the event scheduled to be held at the Sector 25 rally ground on Saturday evening.

During Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh at Exhibition Ground in Sector 34 on December 14, the noise level had exceeded the limits.

In an affidavit submitted before a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the UT Administration stated that the noise levels exceeded the permissible limits during Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh’s concert in the city on December 14.

The UT Administration stated that action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Noise Pollution Rules had been proposed.

“During the musical event of performer Diljit Dosanjh, the noise levels were monitored at various locations and it was observed that these exceeded the limits prescribed under The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. The noise levels had ranged between 76.1 and 93.1 decibels against the permitted 75 at three different location. Accordingly, action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the 2000 rules has been proposed vide letter dated December 16.”

The affidavit comes less than a week after a court directive imposing strict noise control measures for public events. The High Court had permitted the concert, subject to the condition that noise levels at the venue boundary must not exceed 75 dB(A).

The Division Bench had asserted that any breach of the prescribed noise limits would attract penal action. “In case the noise level goes beyond 75 dB(A), the official respondents are directed to take penal action against the organisers as prescribed by the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control Rules), 2000,” it had said.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an advocate seeking directions to the Union Territory of Chandigarh regarding the management of public events at the Sector 34 Exhibition Ground.