Unauthorised loudspeakers may soon be a thing of past

District administration initiates survey of loudspeakers installed at religious and public places without permission to ensure their removal

LUCKNOW: The state capital may soon be freed from the loudspeaker menace as the district administration has initiated a survey of loudspeakers installed at religious and public places without permission to ensure their removal.

A special team had been constituted for the purpose.

The district administration’s move came a day after the UP government directed district magistrates and superintendents of police (SPs) to ensure the removal of ‘unauthorised’ loudspeakers and public address systems across the state.

The UP government had set January 10 deadline for completion of the survey and plans to remove loudspeakers installed without permission from January 15.

Apart from the state capital, other districts too initiated the surveys to meet the deadline.

Officials with the administration said the survey of the loudspeakers was being carried out at the police station level and the team would submit its report before January 10 – the deadline set by the home department for completion of the survey.

“Our team comprising administrative and police personnel is on the job. We have roped in local police stations to speed up the exercise and to ensure removal of unauthorised speakers,” said Santosh Kumar Vaish, additional

district magistrate (west), who is part of the drive.

ADM (west) said loudspeakers and public address systems installed at religious places without prior permission would be considered as illegal.

“After the survey, people associated with religious places may also apply for permission for loudspeakers,” said Vaish.

However, giving permission won’t be an easy task, especially when the number of temples, mosques, gurudwaras and churches runs into thousands. Though officials claimed to have ample forms for application of permission for the loudspeakers, they were still clueless over the

implementation of the guidelines, said sources.

“There are many things that are still not clear to the officials. A majority of them are confused over the norms for installation of loudspeakers at marriage halls and at religious establishments. There is no different format of forms for the applicants who want to install loudspeakers at religious places,” said a senior administrative officer.

It’s not the first time that the government had taken initiative to curb the loudspeaker menace.

In March 2015, concerned over frequent complaints of excessive use of loudspeakers at guesthouses and school premises where marriage functions were held, the district administration established a dedicated helpline to tackle the problem. As per its order, people could reach the helpline by calling 05222611119, 2611118 and 2611117 and report the menace.

A similar but more detailed guideline was issued in 1987 under the Uttar Pradesh Nagar Mahapalika (prohibition of noise and regulation of loudspeakers), 1987. The rules defined the roles of the hirer – the person hiring the loudspeakers, licensing officer— mukhya nagar adhikari or an officer authorised on his behalf, types of loudspeakers – both electrically and mechanically operated and the purpose of their installation.

‘No person shall, without the written permission of mukhya nagar adhikari and without complying with the conditions laid down in the rules should install loudspeakers, whether it is stationary or fitted within or outside any house or fitted on any temporary structure, tent, car, lorry or bus within limits of nagar malapalika’ — reads Uttar Pradesh Nagar Mahapalika (prohibition of noise and regulation of loudspeakers) 1987.

But the enforcement agencies here seem to have failed in the effective implementation of the existing rules.

Sources with the district administration said other than political parties they haven’t seen a single applicant applying to get permission for the loudspeakers.