Mangaluru : The Dakshina Kannada district administration has set up seven committees, involving officials from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, police and other departments, to implement the government circular dated May10, 2022, related to the use of loudspeakers in public places and religious centres in the district.

The district administration, in a circular issued on Wednesday, has directed all loudspeaker or public address system users, to obtain permission from the competent authority, compulsorily within 15 days. DC K V Rajendra said, “Those who do not obtain permission, should voluntarily remove the loudspeaker or public address system from their premises. If they do not obtain permission within 15 days, the competent authority will remove the equipment from their premises.”

Further, legal action as per the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and under sections 15, 19 and 24 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, will be initiated against the violators. All religious places should compulsorily obtain permission for use of loudspeakers. The public should also obtain permission compulsorily to use loudspeakers for programmes held between 6am and 10pm. The use of loudspeakers and public address system has been banned completely between 10pm and 6am and near educational institutions and hospitals.

Organisations and religious places should submit an application to use loudspeaker or public address system, 15 days prior to the event, and officials will approve the same, seven days prior to the schedule. An official of the ACP rank in Mangaluru City limits and DySPs in taluks of the district, will clear applications as per rules, in consultation with officials of other departments.