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The short answer
A noise pollution complaint in Odisha can be made to the police (112 or the local station) while the noise is on, and in writing to the authority under the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000: the District Magistrate, Police Commissioner or a designated officer of DSP rank or above. Loudspeakers need prior permission and are barred from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. outside closed halls. Industrial pollution goes to the OSPCB, and environmental disputes to the NGT Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata.
Noise pollution complaint in Odisha: the law in brief
A noise pollution complaint in Odisha is decided under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, made under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, along with the State's Odisha Fireworks and Loudspeakers (Regulation) Act, 1958 and the public-nuisance provisions of the new criminal laws. The Supreme Court has treated freedom from excessive noise as part of the right to life under Article 21 (In re: Noise Pollution, 2005). The same offices, the police, the district administration, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and, for larger disputes, the National Green Tribunal, also deal with air and water pollution and illegal tree felling.
The limits that apply
The 2000 Rules fix ambient noise standards in decibels, dB(A) Leq. Day is 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and night is 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
| Area | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial | 75 | 70 |
| Commercial | 65 | 55 |
| Residential | 55 | 45 |
| Silence zone | 50 | 40 |
A silence zone is the area within at least 100 metres of a hospital, educational institution, court or religious place, or any other area the competent authority declares.
The main rules on loudspeakers, DJs and similar equipment:
- Prior written permission from the authority is needed to use a loudspeaker or public address system (Rule 5).
- No loudspeaker between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., except in closed premises such as auditoriums, conference rooms and banquet halls, or in a public emergency.
- The State may allow use until midnight during cultural or religious festivals on not more than 15 days in a calendar year, notified in advance.
- At the boundary of a public place, the noise from a loudspeaker must not exceed the area standard by more than 10 dB(A), or 75 dB(A), whichever is lower. For private systems the margin is 5 dB(A) at the boundary of the private place.
- Horns are barred in silence zones and at night in residential areas; sound-emitting firecrackers are barred in silence zones and at night; and noisy construction equipment may not be used at night in residential areas and silence zones (Rule 5A).
In Odisha, the OSPCB directed districts in 2021 not to allow loudspeakers above 65 decibels on any occasion, to allow only audio systems fitted with sound limiters, and reported that loudspeakers and DJ systems need approval from the police station concerned. In September 2026 the Orissa High Court directed the State Government to frame guidelines on DJs, sound systems and musical instruments within six weeks. Check whether new guidelines have been notified when you file your complaint.
Loudspeaker complaint to the police: step by step
- Record the facts. Note the date, time, place and source (wedding procession, DJ, temple or pandal loudspeaker, factory, generator, construction). Take short videos with time stamps. A phone decibel app gives an indication only; it is not an official measurement.
- Call 112 or the local police station while the noise is going on, especially after 10 p.m. Under Rule 5 the night ban is clear, and the police can halt the equipment and check whether permission was given. In Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the Commissionerate Police issues guidelines and restrictions for events such as pujas and processions.
- Give a written complaint to the "authority". Under the 2000 Rules, this is the District Magistrate, the Police Commissioner, or another officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police designated for the purpose. Under Rule 7, a person may complain when noise exceeds the standard by 10 dB(A) or more, or when the night-time rules are broken, and the authority must act on the complaint. Keep a received copy.
- Ask for a prohibitory order. Under Rule 8, the authority can issue a written order to prohibit or regulate loudspeakers, music, fireworks or noisy trades causing annoyance to the public or neighbours. The person affected by the order is heard if they apply to change it.
- Escalate if nothing happens: write to the Superintendent of Police or Police Commissioner and the Collector, and keep copies of every complaint. You can also seek the action taken through an RTI application.
Public nuisance: SDM and criminal court routes
- Conditional order to remove a nuisance: an Executive Magistrate (in practice the Sub-Divisional Magistrate) can order a person to remove or abate a public nuisance, such as a trade or occupation injurious to the health or comfort of the community, under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (old Section 133 CrPC). This is often used for a persistent source such as a mill, workshop or generator.
- Public nuisance offence: Section 270 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 defines public nuisance, and Section 292 punishes a public nuisance not otherwise provided for with a fine of up to Rs 1,000.
- Environment law penalties: breaking the 2000 Rules is punishable under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Civil suit: a neighbour affected by a continuing private nuisance can file a civil suit for an injunction and damages. See injunction suits for property and neighbour disputes.
OSPCB complaint: factories, construction, smoke and effluent
The OSPCB enforces the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Industries, hospitals, hotels, crushers, brick kilns and similar units need its consent to establish and operate. For smoke, dust, effluent in a river or pond, noise from an industrial unit, or burning of waste:
- Write to the OSPCB regional office for your district (the Board's head office is in Bhubaneswar), giving the unit's name and location, the pollution observed, dates and photographs.
- Ask whether the unit holds valid consent and whether an inspection will be done; ask for a copy of the inspection report.
- For waste dumping or drain problems in a town, also complain to the municipal corporation or municipality.
Illegal tree felling
Felling and transport of timber in Odisha are regulated by the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, including through the Orissa Timber and Other Forest Produce Transit Rules, 1980. Even on private land, permission is needed for some trees; the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests said palm trees on private land cannot be cut without government permission. If you see trees being felled without permission, inform the local Forest Range Office or the Divisional Forest Officer, and in a city also the municipal body or development authority, with photographs and the location. In a forest area, rights of forest dwellers are a separate subject; see forest rights in Odisha.
NGT Eastern Zone, Kolkata and the Orissa High Court
Environmental disputes from Odisha go to the Eastern Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal at Kolkata. The NGT hears cases involving a substantial question relating to the environment under the laws listed in Schedule I of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, which include the Water Act, the Air Act and the Environment (Protection) Act.
- An application for relief, compensation or restitution under Section 14 is generally to be filed within six months from when the cause of action first arose; the Tribunal can allow a further 60 days for sufficient cause.
- An appeal under Section 16 against certain orders (for example, consent orders under the Water or Air Act) is to be filed within 30 days, extendable by up to 60 days.
- The NGT can be approached by an individual or a group, and its website carries cause lists and orders.
Where authorities do not act at all on a public problem, a writ petition in the Orissa High Court is another route; see writ petitions in the Orissa High Court. Courts and their addresses are listed under courts.
Odia terms used in this guide
| Odia | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ଶବ୍ଦ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣ | shabda pradushana | noise pollution |
Frequently asked questions
Can loudspeakers be used after 10 pm in Odisha?
Not in the open. Under the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, loudspeakers and public address systems may not be used between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. except in closed premises such as auditoriums and banquet halls, or in a public emergency. The State can relax this to midnight on up to 15 festival days a year, notified in advance.
How do I file a loudspeaker complaint with the police?
Call 112 or the local police station while the noise is going on, and follow up with a written complaint to the District Magistrate, Police Commissioner or the designated officer of DSP rank or above. Note the date, time and source, and keep videos with time stamps.
What is the noise limit in a residential area?
The standard for residential areas is 55 dB(A) during the day (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and 45 dB(A) at night. Silence zones around hospitals, schools, courts and religious places have 50 and 40 dB(A).
How do I file an OSPCB complaint against a factory?
Write to the Odisha State Pollution Control Board's regional office for the district, naming the unit and describing the smoke, dust, effluent or noise with dates and photographs. Ask whether the unit has valid consent to operate and request a copy of any inspection report.
Which NGT bench hears cases from Odisha?
The Eastern Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal at Kolkata. An application under Section 14 of the NGT Act is generally to be filed within six months of the cause of action, and an appeal under Section 16 within 30 days, with limited extensions.
Is noise from a neighbour a police matter or a civil matter?
Both routes exist. Persistent loud music at night can be reported to the police and the authority under the 2000 Rules. A continuing private nuisance, such as a workshop or generator next door, can also be the subject of an SDM order under Section 152 BNSS or a civil suit for an injunction.
Official sources
- Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 (Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Odisha)
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (India Code)
- National Green Tribunal (official website)
- Orissa Timber and Other Forest Produce Transit Rules, 1980 (Forest Department, Odisha)
- Orissa High Court (official website)
General information, not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts and documents, and the law and official procedures change. Check the current position with the concerned office, or take advice on your own facts, before acting.