AGARTALA, Oct 22 (TIWN): The highest permissible sound limit for fire crackers in the state is been fixed at 90 decibel at 5 metres in a public place on the occasion of Diwali / Laxmi puja.

A Govt team along with Pollution Control Board has visited the markets in Agartala, checked stocks of crackers and seized sound fire crackers.

The order will be enforced in the city and suburbs. The police have also put a blanket ban on bursting of crackers between 10 pm and 6 am. The order includes a ban on the use of rockets, apti bombs (thrown downwards), Chain crackers,7 shots, kali potka, chocolate bomb or big crackers which exceed 21 grams in weight as well as those that create a shuttering noise. Crackers which exceed the noise decibel level of 90 db are prohibited; the order is enforceable till Diwali.

The police will also be adhering to the guidelines handed down by the Supreme Court in 2005, direct all states to work towards controlling the spurt in noise pollution during festivals. The directions were given while deciding the plea filed by the Forum, Prevention of Environment and Sound Pollution. There shall be a complete ban on bursting sound emitting firecrackers between 10 pm and 6 am. However, there is no restriction on bursting of colour/light emitting firecrackers.