Following a government order to check the use of loudspeakers in religious places in Uttar Pradesh, the authorities have removed over 6,000 of them and the volume of another 30,000 was set to permissible limits.
¡°Under this exercise, a total of 6,031 loudspeakers were removed and volume of 29,674 loudspeakers was set within permissible limits till Wednesday afternoon,¡± Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said.
The action came after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during a review meeting on law and order with senior officials here last week, said people have the freedom to perform their religious practices according to their faith.
"Though microphones can be used, it should be ensured that the sound does not come out of any premises. People should not face any problem,¡± he had said.
The home department has also sought a compliance report from the districts over the removal of loudspeakers at religious places by April 30.
As per the information provided by the police department on Wednesday, maximum 1,366 loudspeakers were removed in districts of the Varanasi zone, followed by Meerut (1,215), Bareilly (1,070) and Kanpur (1,056).
In terms of minimising the volume of loudspeakers, the Lucknow zone tops the list with action against 6,400 loudspeakers, followed by Bareilly (6,257) and Meerut (5,976).
Kumar said loudspeakers are being removed from all religious places without any discrimination.
The exercise was conducted by a joint team comprising officials of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation.
"The exercise to remove loudspeakers was started on Tuesday and is currently underway. We are conducting the exercise in tandem with members of peace committees and religious heads of different religions. So far, we have not faced any opposition while conducting the drive," Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Somen Barma said.
Earlier the UP home department had informed temples, mosques, gurudwaras, churches and marriage halls to follow the guidelines for using loudspeakers.?
The home department has instructed police stations to make a list of all such places and send their reports to the home department by April 30.
"Following the order of court and government, information is being given to everyone regarding noise pollution. This information is being given to all temples, mosques, gurudwaras, churches and marriage halls. People are following the guidelines," Yogesh Kumar, ACP Kaiserbagh, Lucknow said.
The Supreme Court's June 2005 order had banned the use of loudspeakers and music systems in public between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (except in cases of public emergencies), citing the serious effects of noise pollution on the health of those residents who live in such areas.?
Citing this, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath had directed officials to ensure that the public address systems are not installed at religious sites without prior permission and at places which are permitted to use loudspeakers it should be ensured that the sound does not go beyond the premises where they are installed.
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