Rules on noise are loud and clear

The first signatory of the declaration was actor Mohanlal. Several prominent personalities, including religious heads, signed the declaration.

District Collector Biju Prabhakar and actor Mohanlal at a meeting against noise pollution in the city on Friday. - Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Religious heads and representatives of cultural organisations in the district on Friday signed a declaration promising to adhere to Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, and create awareness about the ill-effects of sound pollution

The declaration was signed at a meeting convened by District Collector Biju Prabhakar. The first signatory of the declaration was actor Mohanlal. Several prominent personalities, including religious heads, signed the declaration.

Mr. Prabhakar told The Hindu that a detailed guideline on the use of sound system in public places had been issued by the district administration.

Registration

As per the guideline, all those using the sound system above 50 decibels have to register with the control rooms in the village offices and District Collectorate. “It’s sort of a self declaration. Only those registered with the control rooms will be given licence to use sound system in public places,” he said.

Meters to detect sound level were distributed to all tahsildars in the district, Mr. Prabhakar said, adding that directives to act against those violating the rules had been issued. The administration took the initiative for bringing together religious heads as it wanted to have a consensus without hurting religious sentiments, he said

Some of the highlights of the guidelines are: Loudspeakers will not be allowed after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m. in places except closed auditoriums, conference halls, community halls, and eateries.

Loudspeakers will not be allowed within a 100-metre radius of hospitals, places of worship, educational institutions, courts, public offices, and wildlife sanctuaries.

They should not to be used on moving vehicles and at junctions. No vehicle is supposed to have more than two boxes. Loudspeakers are not to be used in public spaces creating inconvenience to the public and the traffic.

Only box-speakers would be allowed, with each box not to have more than two speakers. Loudspeakers used for public programmes are to be used in such a way that only people attending that programme could hear them. The loudspeakers are to be fixed within 300 metres of the amplifier.