Hyderabad: City police patrols do their bit in disturbing citizens at night when they switch on the siren of their patrol vehicles. These should ideally be used only in an emergency. Places of worship, too, often disturb the peace of citizens.
Karuna Kumar of Umanagar colony in Begumpet complains of a patrol vehicle stationed at the colony every day for the residents and for a degree college. “The vehicle tours the colony at midnight. Though I feel secure because of the patrolling, I get startled. It becomes difficult to get back to sleep”.
Sonal Jain, who lives in the Shamlal Building area, says the siren should be muted when patrolling at night. “The siren in fact alerts those engaged in unsocial activity,” she says.
Houses of worship are often guilty of disturbing people. Even those located a few metres from areas categorised as silent zones by the Supreme Court, where noise restriction should be maintained, ignore the strictures.
O.M. Debara, a retired engineer and environmentalist says, “Undisputedly, no religion prescribes that prayers should be performed by disturbing the peace of others. In a civilised society, in the name of religion activities which disturb old or infirm persons, students or children cannot be permitted.”
High Court advocate Bal Reddy says, “Noise makers often take shelter behind Article 19(1)A pleading freedom of speech and right to expression. Undoub-tedly, the freedom of speech and right to expression are fundamental rights but the rights are not absolute.”
Cops, civic body get complaints
Some recent complaints related to different types of noise pollution reported to the GHMC and regional police stations.
1. Mahendra Polapelly from Bowenpally complained: “The residents of Mallikarjunanagar are facing noise pollution caused due to existence of Bhagyashree Funtion Hall. Almost daily there is a function marriage/reception/ birthday parties and they allow loud DJ sound system till late at night. We don’t get proper sleep and peace of mind after coming home from hectic work at office. We have a month-old baby and aged parents. We regularly call the police station and the officers intervene, but how often must we complain to the police station?"
2. Shiva Kumar Gardas complained to the Hyderabad traffic police: “Auto number TS 07 UC0300 is using an ambulance horn for his auto, (sic) so that people think it’s an ambulance and give him space. Taking advantage of this, the auto driver drives very rashly and causes unnecessary sound pollution.”
3. A. Rajashekar Rao, resident of TRT colony, Vidyanagar, lodged a complaint with GHMC on December 16: “Our colony is surrounded by masjids/temples and they are creating huge noise pollution daily by using loudspeakers.”
P. Satyanarayana complained that “despite the clear-cut provisions of noise pollution rules, the Ramalayam temple (adjacent to Manjeera Tank) in Nizampet village in Kukatpally, is using loudspeakers without permission. This is a blatant violation of the law.”
5. The GHMC has received complaints regarding loud morning prayers on Sundays by a church located near Mahbub College grounds, Clock Tower, Secunderabad.
