The developer of Bhawani Twin Tower in Golabari area of Howrah has asked residents not to host any DJ event at its year-end party, citing the article in My Kolkata about the wife of a senior Pollution Control Board official complaining about violation of noise norms and harassment for protesting.
Christmas Eve and New Year parties with DJ nights and loud music are common in house complexes across the city. The state pollution control board had declared a blanket ban on DJ nights sometime ago while use of loudspeakers is banned after 10pm.
The article, published on Dec 27, highlighted how a section of residents were planning to use DJ throughout the night at a new year eve party; referring to a complaint of a resident that was lodged to state pollution control board heads, police commissioner and Howrah municipal corporation.
Another resident of the housing complex, with whom this reporter spoke on Saturday, claimed that they would observe the New-Year eve party maintaining the norms.
The Plurals has called on several housing complexes in the city and around on Saturday and found that Bhawani Twin Tower incident is a rule, rather an exception, in city and around; with most confirming the plan of organising New Year eve party with DJ and music till midnight and beyond.
Violations at Howrah housing complex
Bhawani Group, the developers of Bhawani Twin Tower, sent a mail to residents of the house complex on Saturday, warning them against violations. “As per restrictions in view of the circular of the pollution control board, you cannot be allowed to run any DJ, as it had already been published ... in Telegraph against the project Twin Tower for noise pollution. Being a developer, we cannot allow anyone to do any act against any lawful restriction and we will not take any responsibility /obligation if any act violates any law,” the email reads.
The member-secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board had sent a letter to all police commissioners, superintendents of police and district magistrate reminding on December 27, reminded them of an October 17, 2023, order that clearly spells out the existing noise norms, including blanket ban on open-air DJ playing; “… no Disc Jockey Set (DJ)/ Hi – pitch sound box to be used in open air …”, and allowance of only green fireworks to burst for “35 minutes during Christmas and New Year’s Eve from 11.55pm to 12.30am”.
Piyali Datta Chakraborty, a scientist and a resident of Bhawani Twin Towers, recently complained to the pollution control board about some residents in the building earlier “harassed … by using abusive languages” when few of them earlier tried to counter noise pollution violating norms; and expressed apprehension about possible violation again at New Year’s eve.
“This is to inform you that this year 31 st night (whole night) they have planned to arrange open-air DJ party in the society premises” reads the letter adding that “in the society whatsapp group they (violators) are adamantly and arrogantly throwing challenge that this 31 st night they will celebrate at the fullest with open air DJ party … with firecrackers,” reads the letter.
Debarati Mukhopadhyay, another government official and writer residing in the complex, also pointed out how DJ music creating noise violations till late at night have become a routine event in the area .
This Plurals received some WhatsApp screenshots being circulated among the building residents. The veracity of the messages have not been checked and hence is refraining from mentioning names of the persons linked to the message, which are clearly threatening in nature. “New Year party hoga jisko problem hai wo apne ear mein ear buds laga le (New Year party will take place; those who have a problem with that can put ear-buds in their ears),” and threatened that “bahut bura hoga (the consequences will be very bad)” if anybody thought about complaining like on the earlier occasion.
High-rises hotbed of noise violation
The Plurals contacted representatives of several high-rise complexes on December 30 and found that most were gearing up for late-night celebrations with DJ-powered music in the open on New Year’s Eve and none seemed to have any clue about the norms to be followed.
“We are planning a late-night celebration with a DJ in the open,” said a representative of South City Gardens in south Kolkata. “We will welcome the New Year in an open space. There will be no loudspeakers, we will only use DJ … we have not received any communication from either the police or PCB,” said the caretaker of Natural Heights Phase-II on VIP Road. Residents of several other buildings shared similar plans.
“We have issued the order several times and the onus is on police to implement it,” said a senior PCB official when quizzed about the large-scale non-compliance.
Naba Dutta, the secretary of green platform Sabuj Mancha, said it had already communicated the PCB directive to rt=the DG and other senior officers. “But we are not very hopeful,” he said.
“Often in multi-storeyed apartments, some residents with money power and connections with the powers that be create a nuisance. Unless the PCB and police become active; the situation will further worsen,” said Biswajit Mukherjee, retired chief law officer of state pollution control board. “We have earlier taken action against several high-rises for noise pollution and even ensured arrests and fines with the help of police,” said Mukherjee, earlier the high court-appointed special officer on noise control.