UP: Loudspeakers to be removed today

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan. 16 (ANI): All loudspeakers in Uttar Pradesh which are being used without permission at religious places will be removed from today by the police.

The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench on Wednesday issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and state pollution control board to remove loudspeakers from religious places, in an attempt to curb the increasing noise pollution.

The state police have been directed to remove all loudspeakers present in public places, religious and otherwise that have been installed without appropriate permission being sanctioned towards the same, in a bid to curb noise pollution caused by them.

The order was issued following directions from the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on the matter, citing the provisions of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

As per the orders of the authority, the District Magistrates (DMs) have also been directed to categorise areas into industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones, as each area would entail a separate maximum limit for the permissible sound level.

Non-compliance with the above norms, the order stated, could lead to five years of imprisonment, and/or a penalty of Rs 1 lakh.

Additionally, the order states that any officer who is caught bending the aforementioned norms will be subject to strict action. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI