LUCKNOW: In a statewide campaign to ensure sustained compliance of an order of the Allahabad high court regarding noise pollution through public address systems, the Uttar Pradesh police have removed at least 3,238 loudspeakers installed at religious places belonging to different faiths since November 23.Police have also directed for lowering of volume of another 7,288 loudspeakers that were installed with due permission, but their volume was higher than permitted decibel limits.One FIR each was filed in Agra commissionerate and Pratapgarh while 21 people were challaned in Gautam Buddha Nagar for not reducing decibel levels.Two FIRs have also been lodged during the campaign, which began on November 23, and will continue till December 22.Over 61,399 religious places were checked during the drive in the last four days.Special director general, law and order, Prashant Kumar said cops had been directed to visit religious places from 5pm to 7pm till December 22.According to the police dossier, maximum loudspeakers were removed in Gorakhpur zone (698) while the volume of the highest number of loudspeakers was lowered in Bareilly (1,975).

Among police commissionerates, the highest number of loudspeakers were removed in Lucknow (538).Among districts, maximum loudspeakers were removed Ambedkarnagar (283), followed by Bahraich (195)."We have issued notices to over a hundred places of religious importance where the caretakers did not follow the norms despite repeated requests by the police," the SDG (law and order) said.The officer said that no individual or community would be harassed on the pretext of removing or lowering the sound of loudspeakers.

"We are maintaining a daily compliance report of the action being taken," he said.

"Action was initiated after complaints of noise pollution were received.

We are covering all those places where the compliance has not been done in the past," Kumar said."U and all district police chiefs have been directed to give a compliance report to the headquarters daily," he added.