Date:24/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/24/stories/2007032402230500.htm

Tamil Nadu

Save us from noise, they pray

LAW &ORDER Blaring loudspeakers put up by festival organisers during Panguni disturb students studying for their examinations, says R. Ilangovan

Come the Tamil month of Panguni, the festivities in various places of worship in and around Salem begin.

However, it is also a sad coincidence that examinations for 10th and Plus II classes too commence in this month.

Students will have to strain round the clock to prepare for the crucial examinations that will decide the course of their future. They performance in the examinations can make or break their careers, for the marks they obtain will be of vital importance.

But unfortunately, the fact is that Salem city today is under the grip of noise pollution.

This pollution emanates from the cone speakers that have been tied to umpteen poles by the festival organisers at various places in the urban centre.

Almost all the temples in the city including ones in Kondalampatti have started celebrating the festivals, forcing the students and patients to pray to the Gods to save them from the blaring noise.

The Apex Court and High Courts have passed stringent orders against the loudspeakers pointing out that freedom from noise is a part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

"The noise polluters have no regard for the inconvenience and discomfort of the people in the vicinity. Noise pollution has had its victims in the past and continues to have victims today as well," the Supreme Court once observed.

Calling it as a `shadowy public enemy' the court said, "Noise is more than just a nuisance.

It constitutes a real and present danger to people's health.

Day and night, at home, at work, and at play, noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress."

As it is, the use of loudspeakers at night is banned under the law. There are also enough laws in the land to regulate the noise pollution.

They are Noise Pollution Control and Regulation Rules, 1999; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Noise Abetment Act, 1960, Control on Pollution Act, 1974, Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act, 1993, Noise Control Act, 1975, Sections 95, 268, 290 and 291 of Indian Penal Code, Sec 133 of Criminal Procedure Code (C.r.PC), Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Amendment) Act, 1987 and Madras Town Nuisances Act, 1889.

But these acts and rules are followed here more in the breach than in the observance, for the noise continues unabated..

An insensitive enforcing authority appears to be the major reason for the indiscriminate use of cone speakers in public places, by organisers.

The citizens hope that City Police should take some stringent action against such unlawful activities and save the students and patients at least in the days to come.