Loudspeakers hampering preparations for exam

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 20

City residents are irked at the blaring sound of loudspeakers installed at public places (religious institutions) and automobiles. The problem is felt acutely close to schools and other educational institutions.

Col RS Patial, principal, Government Residential School for Meritorious Students, said, “We bear this cacophony 24x7 because there is no one to listen to us. Any evolved worshipper needs no loudspeaker for prayers. Noise pollution has become a health hazard for the general public and has dangerous effect on the tender mind and body of children. Most of the city is asleep and students are forced to wake up daily before 4 am by the noise of the loudspeakers installed at religious buildings. It disturbs the sleep of the students who study late at night preparing for their exams. During some religious they blare throughout the night as well. It is extremely difficult for the students preparing for their board and professional exams to study.”

“On one side of the road near the school are three Gurudwaras and on the other side a Mandir, Masjid, Church and two more Gurudwaras. No religion prescribes that prayers should be performed by disturbing the peace of others nor does it preach that they should be through loudspeakers,” he added.

Rajiv Kumaria, principal of PBN Senior Secondary School, said, “Administrative authorities have failed miserably to control the menace of noise pollution in the city. I want to request the people to kindly keep the volume of their loudspeakers low within their premises so that the students can study for their final board exams, starting from the next month.”