Loudspeakers irk students preparing for examination

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 19

Despite ban by the district administration, loudspeakers at religious places continue to create nuisance in the city and neighbouring areas. It seems that priests at religious palaces are least concerned about noise pollution and discomfort of students. The examination of board classes are going to begin from February 28. Students have been complaining that continuous blaring of religious hyms from loudspeakers disrupts their study.

Religious institutions use public address systems in mornings and evenings.

People in villages complained that bhajans can be heard at loud volumes in wee hours every day. During marriage season, people play DJ till late night.

As per the Punjab Instruments (Control of Noises) Act 1956, one cannot use loudspeaker from 10 am to 6 pm. During morning and evenings the noise level should not exceed the fixed limit.

Akal Takht, the supreme body of the Sikhs has also instructed devotees that sound level should be kept within limits of gurdwara premises. However, only a few gurdwaras follow the instructions. Religious places have affixed loudspeakers on rooftops or outside premises, which are switched on in mornings and evenings.

Navdeep Singh, a resident of Nagali village, said, “Religious places have been flouting norms of the government as well as supreme religious bodies. The problem is more severe in villages, where their number is high. Most of the times loudspeakers are used without caring about the people living in the vicinity.”

“I don’t think that any religion allows anyone to disturb people. No one has any right to create noise pollution much to the discomfort of the people. They are doing it fearlessly in the name of religion. As no one wants to intervene in religious matters, so no formal complaint is filed with the department concerned. The administration should take action against violators at least during examination days,” said Jaswinder Singh a resident of Verka.