Amid the ongoing loudspeaker row, a BJP councilor from Jammu city has presented a resolution against loudspeakers in public places in the Jammu Municipal Corporation. Councilor of the Ward No. 3 of Jammu Municipal Corporation, Narottam Sharma, has come up with this resolution. Discussion on the matter is yet to take place.
Sharma said that the resolution is different than the issue of loudspeakers that has come to the fore from other parts of India. In an interview with ETV Bharat, Sharma can be heard saying that he has demanded in the resolution that the guidelines of the Supreme Court of India be implemented. Pertinently, the Supreme Court of India had banned loudspeakers and music systems in public sphere from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (except in cases of public emergencies) in July 2005. The SC had cited effects of noise pollution on the health of those living in these areas, in the order.
Sharma added that he has added in the resolution that all loudspeakers in places of faith, banquet halls or other such public places, which are in use illegally, i.e., without the permission of the District Magistrate be banned. He also said that the resolution he has presented doesn’t target a particular community and stands for all the religious places belonging to all faiths in Jammu.
Upon being asked whether he had put forward the resolution as per instructions from some political party or on his own, Sharma said that he had taken up the issue on his own since he happens to be an elected representative and it was his responsibility to do what’s best in the public interest.
“Supreme Court had cited a research that tells us that the noise pollution is a contributing factor to issues such as high blood pressure and depression in old age patients, and passed the judgment on banning of loudspeakers. Hence I put in efforts in this resolution and I’m hopeful that it’ll be passed tomorrow,” he added.
Further, he said that he doesn’t intend on making political issue with the resolution, adding that if someone has issues with the resolution, there will be a discussion over it. Sharma said that noise pollution affected people of all communities and therefore he only wants that the Supreme Court judgment be implemented.
Mr. Sharma also said that the resolution had been moved after talking to people of all faiths in the Ward No. 3 of Jammu city.