.jpg?FDMEYzKHA75StX9XRw5qIcrlj1m.2_U8&size=770:433 "UP authorities are demolishing the outdoor speakers at the behest of Minister Yogi Adityanath. (Photo: Rep / File)")
UP authorities are demolishing the outdoor speakers at the behest of Minister Yogi Adityanath. (Photo: Rep / File)
As the government of Uttar Pradesh cracked outdoor speakers Following the directives of Minister Yogi Adityanath, an investigation by India Today has found that many in the state’s law enforcement agencies are not trained and equipped to monitor and tackle noise pollution. Overall.
The actual erasing of unauthorized devices is only part of the enforcement of the rules. Current guidelines also cover pollutants from permitted sources that exceed specified acoustic thresholds.
The police officers India Today spoke to didn’t even know that sound is measured in units called decibels, let alone tools and apps that record noise pollution.
AT WITS ‘END OF TECHNOLOGY’
At Muradnagar police station in Ghaziabad district, senior inspector Sompal and police chief Kamal Hasan were calm when asked about the device.
“Do you have any decibel meters at your station?” reporters asked SSI.
SSI Sompal
“I’ll check it out,” he replied.
Sompal’s colleague Hasan admits they don’t have sound level meters.
Constable Kamal Hasan
“We don’t know how we’re going to measure it [sound],” said the sheriff. “What facility are you talking about? Who will issue decibel meters and who will get them? ”
At Partapur police station in Meerut, SSI Vijendra Sharma accepted that they did not have the technology at hand to fully enforce the noise pollution process.
“We’re going to make sure that the sound doesn’t come out of the facility,” said Sharma.
SSI Sharma
“But do you have the device?” asked the reporter.
“We don’t have any gauges yet. They will be provided by the government. We don’t have those sound meters at the police station level,” SSI replied.
OLD METHODS IN HIGH TECH AGE
Meerut Sadar’s SHO police department, Dev Singh Rawat, relies on conventional methods to enforce the rules.
“We are talking to them [people]. There is a peace committee. All guidelines will be followed regarding noise pollution,” he said.
SHO Dev Rawat
“It’s noise pollution. How would you measure it? Do you have any devices? ‘ asked the journalist.
“We don’t have any. No one can do it [determine noise pollution] by just listening. We will coordinate with officials from the administration. Maybe they will have some equipment,” Rawat said. “The police station doesn’t have it.”
‘ONUS ON MICROPHONE USERS’
The SHO of New Mandi police department in Muzaffarnagar, Pankaj Pant, pushed microphone buyers and sellers when asked about enforcing decibel guidelines.
“It is the responsibility of those who use it. They have to ask about it from the sales people,” he said. “People have been told to bring the prescribed decibels. They will have to ask the seller about the decibel level of the product. Those who are installing microphones should have them [the devices]’ he added.
SHO Pankaj Pant
Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have set decibel limits for industrial (75 dB daytime), commercial (65 dB daytime), residential (55 dB daytime) and silent areas .
Countries fighting noise pollution deploy a range of devices to map and prosecute violators.
In Paris, for example, a noise radar identifies noisy vehicles, which are prosecuted for violations.
Researchers in Belgium have developed an app to record sound levels and GPS locations.
Prashant Kumar, ADG (law and order) in Uttar Pradesh, told India Today that police officers enforcing the rules will be accompanied by officials from the pollution department.
“Those officials have the authority to determine noise levels and provide guidance for next action,” he said.
