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Meghalaya Govt Accused of Violating Noise Norms During Cherry Blossom Festival
Nov 17, 2025Former MLA John Leslee K. Sangma has accused the Meghalaya government of flouting noise pollution regulations during last week’s Cherry Blossom Festival, alleging that excessive sound levels caused severe discomfort to residents living near Shillong’s Polo Ground.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Sangma said that people residing within a three- to four-kilometre radius of the venue—particularly those in Mawlai Mawroh—were subjected to “extreme noise levels” during the two-night musical concert. According to him, the sound from the event crossed 120 decibels and continued past midnight, in violation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. The rules mandate that noise in residential areas should not exceed 45 dB, and around hospitals and schools it should be limited to 40 dB between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Sangma further alleged that the loud music and fireworks adversely affected patients at the nearby Ganesh Das Hospital, including mothers in the maternity ward and infants in the NICU/PICU. He criticised the government for allowing entertainment to “take precedence over the lives and health of its own citizens.”
Having lived in Mawlai Mawroh for a decade, the former MLA said even households farther from the stadium experienced window vibrations due to the sound intensity. He accused the government of a “blatant violation” of regulations that are otherwise enforced strictly during election periods.
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