Political bhashans getting you down? Good news: Mumbai's cops will soon be pulling up parties that broke noise pollution levels
Political bhashans getting you down? Good news: Mumbai's cops will soon be pulling up parties that broke noise pollution levels
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POLITICAL parties put all their efforts to lure their voters during the last two months of campaigning, without realising that this noise could land them in trouble.
Joint Commissioner of Police (L&O) K L Prasad said, "The department will submit its detailed report on the violation of noise pollution during the recent elections, after the code of conduct is lifted."
The police action comes in wake of the recent Bombay High Court order on a petition filed by Awaaz Foundation.u00a0
Advocate Malika Iyer, who represented the Awaaz Foundation, said, "The affidavit filed by the state (2 February 2009) mentioned implementation of recommendations made by the High Court committee in 1986, wherein the committee has specifically stated that the Election Commission would be required to take necessary action in cases related to noise during election."
The Bombay High Court, in its order dated April 2, stated that police department has received decibel meters, partly supplied by the government and partly by the Pollution Control Board. They shall be used to maintain noise standards and steps will be taken to ensure that standards are not violated. Meters are also being purchased all over Maharashtra, which may take more time to receive.
Special training has been provided to the police staff to use the decibel meters. The city police has over 80 decibel meters, provided to almost every station in the city.
However, another official said, "Though decibel meters are available, not many officials know how to operate it.
Recently, a constable asked me whether the meter should be placed near loudspeakers or at the outskirts of the ground where the event was going on. There seems to be some confusion." A senior police officer explained that during the election campaign, policemen were made to attend with the decibel meter to make records.u00a0
Awaaz Foundation founder Sumaira Abdul Ali is in USA and could not be contacted.
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