Patna: In probably a first in recent years, a Patna district administration team on Sunday night intercepted a wedding procession on Sinha Library Road and ordered it to stop playing the band as it was well past 10pm, the deadline after which playing loud music at public places has been declared illegal by the Supreme Court of India. Sources said the district administration team led by SDM (sadar) Reyaaz Ahmed was drafted to the spot for the purpose by none other than Patna DM Sanjay Agrawal. "We have started a drive to curb noise pollution and the drive will continue till people realise their responsibility," Agrawal said on Monday. Since this was for the first time during the drive that violators were caught, the sources said, they were let off after a warning against playing the band. "Elders among the baaraatis readily accepted their mistake and stopped the music," the DM said and added FIRs would be lodged against and hefty fines imposed on those caught violating noise pollution norms next time onwards. Agrawal, whose one of the New Year resolutions for 2016 is to control increasing noise pollution in the state capital, said vigil was being kept for now on marriage processions and other such social gatherings. "We will prevent violations even during festivals in days to come," he said. The DM regretted the worst sufferers were residents, especially the elderly and students, of the colonies which have a community hall. "Anyone can dial 100 and complain about it. We have a dedicated team headed by the SDM to handle the menace. We have also instructed the SHOs of all the police stations to attach immediate importance to checking such violations," he said. Another challenge is useless honking by motorists, which adds to the noise pollution. "Soon 'No-horn zones' near all the city hospitals and schools would be identified and signboards displayed in those areas. Anyone found honking in these zones would be booked," he said and added the administration had also decided to rope in school students for creating awareness about the hazardous impact of noise on health. In December last year, the Patna high court directed the state government to check noise pollution and asked the authorities concerned to enforce the existing laws and orders in this regard. Records show most places in Patna have exceeded 80 decibel (dB) noise level whereas the the permissible limit during daytime is 55dB. PMCH's former ENT (ear, nose and throat) department HoD Dr Parmanand Prasad Pal cautioned, "Continuous exposure to high noise levels can lead to hearing loss. It also causes insomnia, hypertension and stress."