By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand police has removed 94 loudspeakers from religious places across Haridwar district to enforce the Supreme Court’s directions on noise pollution and ensure compliance with prescribed sound limits.
The campaign was launched on the instructions of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Haridwar as part of an effort to ensure 100 per cent compliance with the apex court’s guidelines on noise pollution and maintenance of public order.
During the drive, police teams inspected loudspeakers installed at religious places in urban as well as rural areas of the district. A total of 94 loudspeakers found to be operating without the required permission or in violation of prescribed sound norms were removed. Of these, 31 were removed from the city area and 63 from rural parts of the district.
Police officials also directed the managements of the religious institutions not to operate loudspeakers in future without obtaining the necessary permission adhering to the prescribed noise standards.
During the campaign, police personnel also conducted awareness programmes for office-bearers, management committees and other concerned persons, informing them about the provisions of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, the Supreme Court’s directives and the guidelines issued by the government.
The police in Haridwar warned that any future violation of the prescribed norms would invite legal action under the relevant provisions of law. Officials said the enforcement drive was aimed at maintaining public peace, curbing noise pollution and ensuring uniform implementation of the law across the district.
The police indicated that similar inspections and enforcement drives would continue in the future to ensure strict compliance with noise pollution regulations.