KKR allowed to use loudspeaker and firecrackers

Kolkata, 12 Mar: The Calcutta High Court today allowed Knight Riders, one of the teams competing in IPL, to use loudspeakers and set off firecrackers at the Eden Gardens stadium during T20 matches.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice M S Shah and Justice P C Ghose, in an interim injunction, stayed a notice by West Bengal Pollution Control Board banning use of loudspeakers and firecrackers.

The WBPCB had also asked the Knight Riders to ensure that cheering and clapping by the expected 40,000 strong crowd should be restricted to below 60 decibels, which the court struck off in its interim order.

While allowing Knight Riders Sports Private limited, co-owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, the court also permitted use of firecrackers within 90 decibel sound limit.

The Knight Riders' counsels assured the court that the crackers would be more a display of colours than sound.

On February 24, WBPCB, citing the West Bengal Noise Regulation (Pollution and Control) 2000 Act, had issued a notice banning use of firecrackers, loudspeakers and also restricting cheering in the stadium.


(PTI)