UPPCB lacks teeth to check noise pollution

The Pollution Control Board has only one portable sound monitoring device and just two designated staffers

LUCKNOW: Strict curbs have not been enforced on illegal loudspeakers to check noise pollution in the state capital and its adjoining districts Sitapur, Barabanki and Kheeri, simply because the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) that covers all four districts has only one portable sound monitoring device. Also there are just two designated staffers to tackle the noise pollution complaints and to ensure on the spot decibel checking.

Drives are being carried out to remove Illegal loudspeakers (installed prior to taking permission) in the state capital and other districts after the government order on January 7, directing DMs and superintendents of police (SPs) to ensure the removal of ‘unauthorised’ loudspeakers and public address systems installed at religious places across the state.

The order said that the sound should not exceed 70 decibels for commercial areas and 65 decibels for residential areas. It had also

directed the officials to carry out a brief survey in their respective districts and to submit report by January 10, limit the high decibel loudspeakers and ensure the removal of all illegal loudspeakers by January 15.

But following the poor staff strength and just one sound monitoring system, the UPPCB, which is to ensure technical assistance to the district administration team, is struggling to

address the increased load of complaints and check sound levels from loudspeakers. PCB officials said on-spot checking of the decibel levels and limiting them was not at all feasible with just one device and inadequate staff.

“Complaints regarding noise pollution are frequent these days. In this situation, it is difficult to address them and assist the administration in decibel checking drives,” a UPPCB official said.

Dr Ram Karan, regional officer, UPPCB said, “All four districts—Lucknow, Barabanki, Sitapur and Kheeri-- come under our jurisdiction. Presently we have one sound monitoring device to check sound levels and two staffers to address complaints which makes the job tough.”

Karan said the PCB had also constituted a flying squad but it could do little with just one device. He has forwarded the proposal for five more devices.

Though the department in Lucknow has other 10 stations at different locations to check air and noise pollution, portable devices are useful in checking on the spot sound level of a loud speaker whereas these stations helped in measuring noise pollution in the area.

So far, over 200 unauthorised loudspeakers have been from various religious places. Of these, a large number was removed from Sarojini Nagar block whereas in the city limits, around 46 loudspeakers were removed from Hazratganj, Hussainganj and Cantonment.