January 7,2018:

Order states that action will be taken against the officials if they fail to act against such persons who continue to flout noise pollution norms.

On Sunday, UP Government has issued a circular to all the District Administrations and Police Department of State to remove all the unauthorised public address systems installed at the religious places. Same would be applicable to the loudspeakers used at the public places, marriage processions and the protest parades of similar kind.

Local Administration of the 75 districts will identify the religious structures/places, public areas in their respective districts where the unauthorised loudspeakers are being used, and serve notice to owner/manager/trustee of such places. If they fail to obtain the permission for usage of the loudspeakers under permissible limit then Police and local administration have to ensure thatthe  loudspeakers are removed by January 20, 2018.

Arvind Kumar, Principal Secretary, Home added that,"Loudspeakers installed at the public places cannot have sound level more than 10 dB (decibel) above periphery of a public place and 5 dB above at the periphery of private place. This practically implies that sound should not go beyond the periphery of the public or private places."

He further added that,"All District Magistrates have to categorise districts into areas of industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones. Each area has separate maximum limits for permissible sound levels".

According to the ambient air quality standards under rule 3 (1) and 4 (1) of Noise Pollution Act 2000, Industrial area will have 75 dB in day time while 70 dB in night, similarly Commercial areas to have 65 dB in day and 55 dB in night, Residential area 55 dB in day and 45 dB in night followed by silence zone 50 dB in day and 40 dB in night.

On December 20,2017, Allahabad HC while hearing a PIL filed by Moti Lal Yadav against the Noise Pollution at the religious and public places caused by the loudspeakers had ordered UP Government to file an affidavit asking what steps Government has taken to curb noise pollution in State.

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