Keeping in mind the examinations of students to be held soon in the state, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on Friday asked all the district level authorities to stop playing loudspeakers in religious places.

In an order issued to the deputy commissioners (DCs), police commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to act tough against such institutes to implement Supreme Court (SC) order to contain noise pollution during night hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

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PPCB Chairman, KS Pannu said that DCs were requested earlier also to implement the notification issued by Department of Science, Technology and Environment so as to issue orders to stop playing of loudspeakers in religious places and Disco Jockey (DJ) systems in the marriage functions.

“The examinations of the students in the months to come. We have directed the sub-divisional magistrates to organise meetings of the local parbhandhak committees of the Gurudwaras, Temples and religious places at the tehsil, block and village levels so as develop a system that the voice from the speakers must remain within their premises,” he said.

Pannu said that Akal Takhat had already issued a Hukamnama (order) in this regard on 23 November 2005 that the voice of the recitation of Gurbani and Kirtan must remain within the Gurdwara premises. But still the edict is yet to be followed in true letter and spirit, he said.

The PPCB had directed the district administration to convince the local parbhandhak committees of the religious places to keep the noise from their address system within their premises. And to implement the Supreme Court orders.

“They should act in a way to develop the people opinion against noise pollution. Owners of the marriage palaces in the state should come forward and co-operate with the Board to contain noise pollution in the larger interests of the students of Punjab,” he said.