News Brief
Maharashtra's Solapur Sees 289 Religious Places Voluntarily Remove Loudspeakers To Cut Noise Pollution
A mosque. (Representative image)
Solapur has taken a significant step in combating noise pollution, as 289 religious institutions have voluntarily removed loudspeakers from their premises, the Hindustan Times reported.
The city had earlier gained attention for hosting DJ-free Ganesh festival celebrations, demonstrating its commitment to reducing environmental noise.
Of the 289 institutions, 192 are Muslim establishments, including mosques, madrasas, and dargahs; 79 are temples; 10 are churches; and eight are Buddhist Viharas.
All had previously used loudspeakers. The move follows a structured initiative by the Solapur city police carried out in three stages.
Solapur Police Commissioner Meganathan Rajkumar explained the approach.
In the first stage, police measured sound levels and informed institutions of violations, issuing oral warnings.
The second stage involved preparing panchnamas and taking penal action against repeat offenders. In the third stage, sample cases were registered against those who continued to exceed permitted noise levels despite prior warnings.
Awareness sessions with trustees and religious leaders followed, highlighting the legal and environmental consequences of excessive noise.
Rajkumar said, “With the help of all communities, we have already made Solapur DJ-free. The court’s directions are for everyone, and we are glad that all leaders removed the loudspeakers voluntarily.”
Rajshekhar Hirehabbu, trustee of Shree Markandey Mandir, said, “After the appeal from the city police, we removed loudspeakers at Gramdaivat Siddheshwar, Mallikarjun, Old Siddheshwar, and Revansiddheshwar temples. These temples are nearly 900 years old, and it is our duty to follow rules for the betterment of society.”
Qazi Sayyed Ali added, “We have voluntarily removed all loudspeakers. It is our responsibility to ensure that no one is exposed to harmful noise.”
Out of Solapur’s 893 religious places, 604 never had loudspeakers, while the remaining 289 have now removed them. Citizens and environmental groups have praised the city’s efforts to reduce noise pollution.
