Vociferous protest
The Union ministry of environment and forests (mef) has amended the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. The amendment, quietly passed on October 11, 2002, permits the use of loudspeakers and microphones till midnight for 15 days every year. The earlier time limit for the use of public address systems was 10 pm. Since there are no specific guidelines for granting permission, experts fear misuse.
The Forum for Prevention of Sound and Environmental Pollution, an Alleppey-based non-governmental organisation (ngo), has filed a petition in the High Court of Kerala challenging the revision. And two other ngos