Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: East Khasi Hills District Magistrate Abhilash Baranwal issued an immediate ban on amplified street performances in public market zones on September 9. Noise assessments revealed that street performers were pumping out sound that exceeded legal limits by 10.1 to 12.1 dB(A) Leq. Loud noise disrupts city life. The district administration acted under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules of 2000 to clamp down on the racket.
The order forbids the use of single-stage microphones, high-output amplifiers, Bluetooth speakers, and sound boxes in open market areas without written permission. Performers must stick to acoustic, unplugged instruments. Officials have also barred performances along narrow pedestrian thoroughfares like GS Road, where noise bounces off nearby buildings. The administration plans to shift street acts to designated cultural zones away from cramped, echo-prone corridors.
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board will monitor noise levels and handle enforcement across the district. Authorities cited Rules 5 and 7 of the noise pollution statutes to justify the crackdown. Rule 7(1) mandates intervention when ambient noise exceeds standards by 10 dB(A) or more. The order states, "Non-compliance will be viewed seriously and action will also be taken under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita." Violators face penalties under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. The ban is effective immediately and remains in place until further notice.
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