Sound polluters to be booked by Hyderabad police

Hyderabad: Whether it is a member of a band, the person who hires the band or the owner of the band, E-petty cases will be booked against them for playing loud music beyond the prescribed hours.

According to the police, whoever creates sound pollution will be booked and cases registered against them purely based on evidence.

The Hyderabad police is taking stringent action against sound pollution by band parties and DJ organisers as such incidents have become a nuisance.

In a warning to bands and music systems playing loud music at night and disturbing the public, a city court convicted two band members on Thursday after they were booked for creating noise pollution by the Chilkalguda police.

North Zone DCP B Sumathi said, “We mainly book E-petty cases in such incidents of noise pollution as there will be seizure of materials which will be another issue for the band people. Anyone visible in the evidence creating noise pollution will be booked whether it’s the owner of the band or the worker. Cases are only booked against small band members when they are repeatedly caught violating the law. Otherwise cases are mainly booked against the managements and the owners.”

As per the restriction orders issued by the Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda police commissioner, there should be no loud noise by any means after 10 pm. The police issued these orders based on the advice of the Telangana State Pollution Control Board.

Dr N Raveendhar said, “Fifteen days back we sent an advisory to all police commissionerates in the city to strictly control noise pollution as the noise levels are 10 to 15 per cent higher than the limit prescribed."

DCP, South Zone, V Satyanarayana, said that 15 cases had been booked in South Zone for causing noise pollution since January 1, 2017.

“After 10 pm we do not allow any baraats and bands. We have sent notices to 186 function halls,” Mr Satyanarayana said.

School principal in sound pollution row
An petty case of noise pollution was booked against the principal of a corporate school in West Marredpally for organising a cultural event in the school, after residents in the locality complained.

The school had not taken prior permission from the police to hold the noisy programme. Police went to the school around 4: 30 pm on Sunday after receiving several complaints.

Inspector Uma Maheshwar Rao of the West Marredpally police said, “We rushed to the school after receiving many complaints from nearby residents. The school did not give prior intimation or take permission for the programme hence we have booked a petty case.”