LUCKNOW: Indian UP government has started crackdown over the mosques usingloud speakers for prayers and Azaan.

The government has directed DMs and SPs to constitute teams which willvisit mosques where loudspeakers or public address systems have beeninstalled.

In a letter issued on January 4, the state home department directeddistrict magistrates to demarcate residential and commercial zones andconduct the survey of loudspeakers quickly. The serial number of theloudspeakers will also be noted down during the drive.

The teams would find if the owners of the premises had installedloudspeakers after obtaining permission from local administration. “Theindividuals would be given a form to apply for permission and submit it atthe Collectorate. The nodal officer would examine the applications anddecide whether to allow the loudspeakers,” said principal secretary home ArvindKumar link>.

The government has set January 10 deadline for completion of the survey.From January 15, a drive will be started to remove loudspeakers installedwithout permission.

A PIL filed in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court urged the court toorder removal of loudspeakers installed at religious spots like temples,mosques, gurudwaras and churches as they lead to noise pollution. The PILwas filed by Moti Lal Yadavlink>.