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UP govt moves to curb rampant use of loudspeakers in public places

AGRA: Following an order from Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court, the UP government on Sunday issued a circular to all district administrations and the police department of the state to remove all unauthorised public address systems installed at religious places. The same would be applicable to loudspeakers used at public places, marriage processions and protest parades of similar kind.

According to the order copy, the local administration of 75 districts will identify religious structures/places, public areas in their respective districts where unauthorised loudspeakers are being used, and serve notice to owner/manager/trustee of such places. If they fail to obtain permission for the usage of loudspeakers under the permissible limit then police and local administration have to ensure that loudspeakers are removed by January 20, 2018.

The order further reads that action will be taken against officials if they fail to act against such persons who continue to flout the noise pollution norms.

Arvind Kumar, principal secretary, home, said, "The loudspeakers installed at public places cannot have sound level more than 10 dB (decibel) above the periphery of a public place and 5 dB above at the periphery of private place. This practically implies that sound should not go beyond the periphery of the public or private places."

"All the district magistrates have to categorise the districts into areas of industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones. Each area has separate maximum limits for permissible sound levels," he added.

According to ambient air quality standards under rule 3 (1) and 4 (1) of Noise Pollution Act 2000, the industrial area will have 75 dB in day time while 70 dB in night, similarly, commercial areas to have 65 dB in day and 55 dB in night, residential area 55 dB in day and 45 dB in night followed by silence zone 50 dB in day and 40 dB in night.

It is important to note that on December 20, 2017, while hearing a PIL filed by Moti Lal Yadav against noise pollution at religious and public places caused by loudspeakers, the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench ordered the UP government to file an affidavit asking what steps the government has taken to curb noise pollution in the state.