State govt orders removal of unauthorised loudspeakers

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered removal of unauthorised loudspeakers from religious and public places in the state.

The order has also asked all district magistrates and district police chiefs to ensure that those having authorised loudspeakers follow norms as per the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Act, 2000.

In the order dated January 4, 2018, principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar has asked the officials to submit compliance reports by January 22 so that the government could file its affidavit in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court.

The government has directed the officials to identify the places with unauthorised loudspeakers by January 10 and issue notices to defaulters.

As per the order, January 15 is the last date for getting authorisation for the use of loudspeakers after which all illegal loudspeakers would be removed by January 20.

Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by one Moti Lal Yadav, the high court had asked the government on December 20 last year to inform, within six weeks, about the action it has taken to curb noise pollution.

The government has asked district authorities concerned to conduct a survey of permanently installed loudspeakers and issue show cause notices to defaulters.

The officials have been asked to constitute a team and conduct surveys at religious places and markets where loudspeakers or public address systems have been installed.

The district magistrates have been asked to categorise areas into industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones, as each area has separate maximum limit for permissible sound level.

The principal secretary (home) said similar orders had also been issued for ‘baraats’ (marriage processions), political or religious processions, social or promotional events or any other programme where loudspeakers are used.

He said officials had been asked to issue permission within five working days of getting an application and take stern action against violators. “Loudspeakers will be seized if permission is not procured by January 15,” he said. Kumar said loudspeakers installed at public places should not have the sound level of more than “10 decibels above the ambient noise level” and “5 decibels above ambient noise level” in the periphery of private places. He said this practically implies that sound should not go beyond the periphery of the public or private place.

The order said non-compliance of norms could lead to five years of imprisonment, and/or a penalty of Rs 1 lakh. Strict action would be taken against any officer caught bending norms, it added.