Jalandhar DJ operators, hoteliers told to keep a check on noise pollution

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, January 28

Following the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s orders on laws to control noise pollution, the ‘Mission 6213’ team at Sanjh Kendra, Police Division Number-2, sensitised religious organisations, DJ operators, hoteliers and youth to various provisions of controlling noise pollution here on Monday.

Highlighting the High Court’s guidelines, Manpreet Singh, a member of the mission, said, all religious organisations, marriage palaces and other noise producing sources should not use loud speakers or any music system in public that eventually troubles residents. Restricting the use of loud speakers or public address system, the court had made it mandatory that users must obtain prior permission from the authorities.

In presence of cops at the police division, the representatives of various groups were also asked to take a pledge that they won’t play loud speakers on high volume. Apprising about the ‘Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000’, Manpreet said, in residential areas volume of noises produced should not cross 55 decibels (db) during day time and 45 db during night time. Similarly, in an industrial area, the volume shouldn’t be raised more than 75 db during day and 70 db during night time. In commercial areas, the noise frequency should be as low as 65 db in day time and 55 db in night. For the areas designated as silence zones, the noise frequency has been fixed at 50 db in day and 40 db during night time.

The day time, in the court’s order, that was issued in July last year (Copy with The Tribune), has been kept between 6 am to 10 pm and night time between 10 pm to 6 am. Reportedly, the provisions regarding noise pollution were framed in response to a petition (number 6,213) filed by Reet Mohinder Singh in 2016. ‘Mission 6213’ team was also named after this petition that was filed in public interest. Its members include Aditya Prabhakar, Mandeep Singh, Kulbir Singh, Raja Singh and Mohit, all city residents.

Owing to constant complaints by students, local police stations in charges have to ensure that loud speakers aren’t allowed to operate three days prior to annual examinations of students. Besides, action must be taken against vehicle owners using pressure horns.

With constant pressure of the team and written PIL’s filed by its members, a private hotel in the city has not only set new timetable for playing music on its premises but also cropped the frequency of music played. ‘Mission 6213’ also alleged that the administration failed to conduct monthly meetings regarding curbing noise pollution. Manpreet said only one meeting on noise pollution was conducted by the Deputy Commissioner in November last year.