DA Editorial Desk | Sara Debbarma
As Durga Puja approaches, Tripura Police has received a practical new tool. On 12 October, the Tripura State Pollution Control Board handed over 35 sound level meters to the force. Minister Animesh Debbarma was present at the event, and Inspector General of Police Manchak Ippar received the equipment. The timing is deliberate. Durga Puja runs from 17 to 21 October, and a season of music, processions and celebration is about to begin.
Noise is easy to overlook because it leaves no mark. Yet loud and prolonged sound can disturb sleep, make it harder for children to study, trouble the elderly and patients, and add stress to daily life. At the same time, festivals are among the most loved occasions of the year, and music and drums are part of the joy. The aim of any sensible policy is not to dim that joy, but to keep it within limits that neighbours can live with.
That is where a measuring device helps. Disagreements over loudness are often matters of opinion: one person finds a speaker too loud while another finds it fine. A meter replaces opinion with a reading. When officers can show a club committee or a sound operator an actual number, the conversation becomes simpler and fairer. Organisers also benefit, because they can check their own equipment before a complaint is ever made.
The success of this effort will depend on how the meters are used. A few thoughts may help. First, training matters. Officers should be comfortable handling the devices, taking readings correctly, and recording them, since a reliable record protects both the public and the organisers. Second, regular checking of the instruments keeps readings trustworthy. Third, the applicable limits for residential, commercial and silence zones, such as areas near hospitals and schools, should be widely known. We have not seen details of these published alongside the announcement, and sharing them in plain language would help every committee plan its sound arrangements in advance.
Communication is just as important as equipment. Puja committees, sound and light operators, and neighbourhood groups are natural partners in this. A short meeting before the festival, in which police and committee members agree on timings and volume, can prevent many problems. Residents, for their part, can raise concerns politely and early, so that adjustments can be made quickly.
People who need quiet deserve particular thought. Hospitals, nursing homes and schools, and homes with elderly or unwell members, should be considered when planning speaker placement and timings. A little care shows the spirit of the festival at its best.
The 35 meters will not, by themselves, change the sound of the season. But they give the police a fair way to guide, not merely to enforce, and they give the public a clear standard to expect. If the tool is used with patience and good sense, Tripura can enjoy its Pujas with full-hearted celebration and with thoughtful consideration for all the people living right next door.