In an interesting first official order signed as the new chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav has banned the unregulated and illegal use of loudspeakers in religious and other places in the state.
Flying squads will be constituted at district levels for regular and sudden inspections of places where loudspeakers above the permissible limits are used and action will be taken to take them off.
The order mentions that efforts would be made to remove such unauthorized loudspeakers used over the permissible limits on religious places in coordination with the religious leaders.
The government order mentions Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal and MP High Court directives and the state government’s own prior orders to impose the regulations strictly.
It may be mentioned that in April this year, Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh had ordered a similar crackdown on loudspeakers over permissible limits. During the past few years, the Madhya Pradesh BJP government has followed several actions taken by the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh government.
The Wednesday order of the MP government mentions that “loud noise causes interruption/obstruction in the working capacity, sleep, rest and communication of people”.
“Noisy atmosphere can lead to high blood pressure, restlessness, stress and insomnia like negative health impacts in the human body. There is evidence of damage to internal parts of the ear due to high decibel noises. The Supreme Court has issued guidelines not only for the noise limit of loudspeakers and vehicle horns but also the sounds used inside private residences,” the order says.
It further mentions that as per ambient air quality standards in respect of noise under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000, the noise limits in industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones should not exceed 75, 65, 55 and 60 decibels respectively during day time and 70, 55, 45 and 40 decibels during night time.
District authorities have been asked to strictly implement these rules regarding noise limits everywhere and constitute flying squads inclusive of officials of district administration, police and pollution control board officials. These flying squads would conduct surprise and regular checks on all religious and public places to ensure that noise limits were not breached and illegal loudspeakers were not used. District authorities have been asked to review the implementation of the order weekly and present the final action taken report before the home department by December 31.
Additional director general of police (crime investigation department) has been made the nodal officer for constant monitoring of noise pollution cases. The nodal officer would be presenting periodic reports to the government about the illegal use of loudspeakers, DJs and other noise pollution implements.
