No check on misuse of sirens, hooters

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 5

Violating the Supreme Court’s prohibitory orders on use of sirens and hooters by politicians, bureaucrats, holders of public offices and others, Adampur Block Development Panchayat Officer (BDPO) Kuldeep Kaur has been blatantly using sirens in her government vehicle.

Local residents claimed that the sirens were used by her whenever she leaves or reaches her residence on the Laddhewali road, near Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus. Besides, residents in Adampur said the sirens were used at a loud volume in her vehicle, creating panic among commuters.

Even her driver uses the siren when she is not sitting in the jeep.

Posted here for over eight months now, Kaur admitted that she had been using sirens and added that, she usually uses the sirens when she gets stuck in traffic or while going to office.

District Development Panchayat Officer (DDPO) Iqbal Singh said the matter had been brought into his notice and he would send a show-cause notice to the BDPO for illegally using the hooters.

As per rules, siren is allowed only in ambulances, fire-fighting vehicles, vehicles used by police officers, vehicles of officers of Motor Vehicles Department in course of their duty or salvage purposes.

Those engaged in emergency duties such as ambulance and fire services and police vehicles used as escorts or pilots or for law and order duties will be entitled to use blue, white, and multicoloured lights instead of red beacon. 

There is no check on the sirens and hooters used by private cars, that are troubling commuters, as drivers often flaunt these when no cops are around. The drivers, mostly teenagers, blow these sirens in a bid to clear the way.

Officials at the traffic police wing said no challans were issued in the recent past against misuse of emergency sirens.