The Mangaluru City and Dakshina Kannada District Police on Wednesday began issuing notices to operators of public places, including religious, business, commercial and entertainment places, to maintain ambient noise standards as prescribed by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Issued by jurisdictional station house officers to institutions concerned, the notices say that noise from institutions should not exceed the levels prescribed under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2010 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The Rules prescribe the maximum levels of noise in different zones as under: it should not exceed 75 and 70 decibels in industrial zone during day (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and night (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), respectively, while the levels prescribed for commercial zones are 65 and 55 decibels, residential zones 55 and 45 decibels and for silent zones, 50 and 40 decibels. The police notices caution operators that if they violate the prescribed standards of noise levels, they will be held responsible under the relevant rules.
Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar told reporters here that the police have identified 1,001 such places where loudspeakers are being used in the commissionerate limits. Notices are being served on such institutions asking them to maintain ambient noise standards while using loud speakers. As many as 357 temples, 168 masjids, 95 churches, 106 educational institutions, 60 industrial units, 98 entertainment venues, 68 marriage halls and programme venues and 49 other public places are being issued such notices, he said.
Action will be initiated against the operators of these places if noise levels exceed the prescribed limits, Mr. Kumar said.
Meanwhile, the District Police too have started serving notices to 331 such places across Dakshina Kannada, said Superintendent of Police Rishikesh Sonawane.
Among the prominent places that got notices in the city include Mangaladevi Temple, Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple, Bishop’s House Church, Valencia Church, Kateel Durgaparameshwari Temple, Idgah Jumma Masjid at Bavutagudde, Central Market Masjid, Outdoor Solutions-Kallapu, River Dale-Jeppinamogaru, all malls and many more.
