A section of stall owners at Kolkata Book Fair has complained to the organisers and the state pollution control board against the stall run by the state commission
for protection of child rights for allegedly using microphones in violation of noise norms.
“It is unfortunate that over the past few days, booksellers, publishers and participants have been suffering acute noise pollution as a stall set up by Paschim Banga Shishu Adhikar Suraksha Ayog... has been using microphones and DJ boxes at a high pitch… violating government norms,” reads the complaint lodged by the owners of 11 stalls with the Publishers and Bookseller’s Guild, which organises the fair.
Environment activist activist Naba Dutta said: “Nobody in this zone (of the fair ground) can do anything because of the noise. We have complained to both the guild and the state pollution control board. It is unfortunate that a government department is violating government norms on noise levels.”
Dutta is associated with an organisation called Nagarik Mancha, which has set up a stall at the fair.
Ananya Chakraborti Chatterjee, an advisor to the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, told The Telegraph: “We had a programme featuring a popular band on Sunday and another on Tuesday…. Why can’t the complainants see the other violations at the fair?”
The commission functions under the women and child development and social welfare department of the Bengal government.
“Whenever we get a complaint related to noise pollution, we ask the organisation concerned to address it,” said Sudhanshu Dey, secretary of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild.
“We will inquire into the matter,” said on official of the pollution control board.
