Dikhyaa Mohanty 
With a rigorous noise level restriction of 65 decibels, the Orissa High Court has approved DJ music for this year’s Durga Puja celebrations in Cuttack City. The ruling was made by the High Court in the midst of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) hearing about noise pollution during the celebrations.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cuttack, was previously ordered by the High Court to provide an affidavit detailing steps taken to mitigate noise pollution. The judge stressed that noise restrictions must be followed even when DJ music is permitted. The court also expressed displeasure with the state of the city’s roadways and mandated that officials finish any required repairs within seven days.
To prevent traffic congestion, the court had earlier ordered that no arches be built on highways during the Dussehra celebration. In addition, it demanded that any cables or wires that would endanger public safety be removed.
