Hindustan Times (Noida)

Of the 2,200 noise pollution-related complaints, most from Gzb, Noida

- Peeyush Khandelwal and Shafaque Alam htreporter­s@hindustant­imes.com ■

GHAZIABAD: Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad are among the top five districts in state from where the maximum number of calls were made to 112 helpline, complainin­g of noise pollution.

According to UP Police, Ghaziabad stood second with 161 calls, while Gautam Budh Nagar stood third with 144. Lucknow topped the list with 294 calls. In all, the 112 helpline received 2,198 noise pollution related calls between February 15 and February 17.

Citizens can call the 112 helpline if noise from their neighbourh­ood is affecting children’s exam preparatio­ns.

“We have briefed PCR vans to immediatel­y attend to such calls. The details of repeat offenders are also being noted. So far, we are getting the music turned down and no FIR has been lodged,” superinten­dent of police (rural) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun, nodal officer for UP112 in Ghaziabad, said.

He said 58 four-wheelers and 43 two-wheelers deployed under the 112 initiative in Ghaziabad have been put on alert.

According to records, the Ghaziabad police received an average of five calls a day about noise pollution. From February 1 to February 14, the Ghaziabad police received 69 noise pollution related calls but the number surged to 17 on February 15 and 22 on February 16.

“The most common sources of noise pollution are wedding functions with loud DJ music. The initiative is helpful for students. Otherwise, there are chances of altercatio­ns if an individual tries to intervene,” Khushi Sinha, student of class 8 and resident of Nehru Nagar, said.

Of the nearly 2,200 calls received, 600 were made from rural areas while 1,600 were from urban clusters. Gautam Budh Nagar tops the list of calls made from rural areas at 55.

“Apart from police, the district administra­tion should also intervene to educate residents about the ill-effects of noise pollution,” Jyoti Gupta, principal of Delhi Public School Ghaziabad, Meerut Road, said.

In Ghaziabad, about 28,000 students are taking their class 10 and 12 CBSE board examinatio­ns, besides 52,000 others appearing for the UP Boards.

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