B’luru police given noise level metre to keep check on rising pollution: Official

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has given at least 108 noise level metres to the police department to measure decibels coming from loudspeakers and other sources used in religious places across Bengaluru, an official said.
“We have given the police department 108 portable noise level metres. So, whenever there are complaints of noise pollution, they (police) can monitor and take action. The police department is vested with powers and they can register a complaint and we give directions to authorities to take action,” said the official at the KSPCB, requesting not to be named.
The statements come even as the Basavaraj Bommai-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government gave fresh directions to the police department and other authorities to take action against any institution violating the mandated volume across the city and state.
The row over the use of loudspeakers in mosques in Karnataka escalated on Monday after a right-wing group played the Hanuman Chalisa and Hindu devotional songs at around 5 am during the time of namaz.
“The case has been going on in the HC for a while. And there was a direction to the pollution control board to procure these measuring devices and give them to the state police. The CM himself has followed up on this and asked them (KSPCB). As of now, they (KSPCB) have given the equipment to the city police but the rest of the state police is yet to get it which we are also pushing for. As for how to use it, there will be a directive coming in tomorrow or the day after which will specify on how to use these devices and how it will be enforced,” said Praveen Sood, Director General & Inspector General of Police, Karnataka.