Current events in the Gaudiya world, or the world out there, as long as it's relevant.
Ruling to eliminate loudspeakers, drums etc - 10pm to 6am, near residential area
nabadip - Wed, 20 Jul 2005 02:51:02 +0530
No more blaring loudspeakers at night near residential areas "No one shall beat a drum or tom-tom or blow a trumpet or beat or sound any instrument or use any sound amplifier at night (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.), except in public emergencies."
http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/20/stories/2005072004051700.htm
Madhava - Wed, 20 Jul 2005 03:01:03 +0530
God bless. Is this now official and country-wide? Where can we send donations for surveillance reinforcements in rural areas?
Keshava - Wed, 20 Jul 2005 04:19:08 +0530
My wife and I are ecstatic about this! However it is one thing to make a law and quite another to enforce it. I suggest that you email a copy of this article to everyone you know who lives in India or will ever visit India. Then everyone should print out a copy and carry it with them everywhere they go in India (I suggest you get it laminated), so that they can pull it out to prove such a law exists. Could someone please give a link to the same story in Hindi and Tamil (and Bengali I guess for most of you). We need to have this in every language.
Why is it important to be able to show an article like this?
Well, from my experience when I bought my house in India. No one would believe me that videshis were allowed to purchase until I showed them a copy of the Law (which has since changed apparently). Therefore I assume that the same type of proof will be neccesary to get the authorities to do anything about noise pollution.
Please Nabadip keep us up to date on this law. There are many temples and ashrams that broadcast 24 hour kathas, kirtans, etc and I am sure that in the religious towns there will be strong opposition to this law. Especially in Tamil Nadu (see the Lonely Planet guide's section regarding this) during Dec-Jan (margali or dhanur masam) everyone with a speaker thinks that it is their duty to play music full blast at the early hours of the morning.
Keshava
nabadip - Wed, 20 Jul 2005 05:48:54 +0530
In West Bengal a similar law exists already since at least 1998. I was there at Gaur-Purnima at Nabadwip Dham when the police confiscated with great pleasure loudspeakers used for nightly nonstop-sankirtan. Nobody had known about the law, since this was done for years already.
In a place like Vrindavan where temples are in the midst of residential houses (well, actually they are almost everywhere like that) there is now a law to break when it comes to use of bells announcing mangal-arati, or early morning nagar-sankirtan. I think also that it is extremely welcome that the blasting of loudspeakers used for family functions in villages can now be terminated theoretically. But the side-effect on religious sites makes one wonder. For it's not only loudspeakers that are forbidden, but any kind of loud instrument as well.
nabadip - Thu, 21 Jul 2005 20:33:45 +0530
Blitz on Indian noise pollution
The BBC, London
The court said people needed to be more aware of noise pollution
India's Supreme Court has banned loud music, firecrackers and the honking of vehicle horns from 2200 to 0600.
The ruling came in response to a public interest lawsuit which called for action against noisemakers.
Health experts argue noise pollution in India is a major cause of heart attacks and other stress related illnesses.
One petition highlighted the case of a rape victim, 13, whose cries for help were drowned out by loudspeakers. She set herself ablaze and died of burns.
Implementation doubts
The Supreme Court has asked the federal government to draw up guidelines for noise reduction and restrict the use of speakers even in the daytime.
The two-judge bench said there was a need to create general awareness on the dangers posed by noise pollution.
The court suggested the introduction of chapters on noise pollution in school textbooks and lectures in colleges.
Delhi resident, Sudhir Vyas, 38, said: "I welcome the banning of horns and loudspeakers at night. However, crackers are only burst during celebrations, especially the main festival, Diwali, and people like to burst crackers at night only."
Student Reena Kohli said: "This is a good decision by the court. I am happy the courts of the country are now addressing people's issues rather than going after publicity-earning issues."
The BBC's Nagender Sharma in Delhi says experts believe the court order is likely to have an impact on late night marriage processions and political rallies, though implementation of the order remains a question.
In the past, court orders on banning smoking in public places and against certain strikes have been flouted.
In Mumbai (Bombay) and Calcutta, local court orders on the use of loudspeakers, firecrackers and horns have been implemented fairly successfully.
But in Delhi the results have been more mixed, with people openly flouting such orders with late night marriage processions, birthday parties and religious functions.