Story Archive

Quietspeakers

While hearing a case against a toy factory, a court in the Indian state of Uttarakhand issued an order setting a maximum volume for loudspeakers: five decibels. The court told the government that anyone using a loudspeaker would have to agree to keep it under that cap. “The loudspeakers keep on blaring even beyond 12 midnight,” the court complained. There may not be much point to using a loudspeaker now, though: the sound level limit, five decibels, is about half the volume of the sound of a human being’s breathing. “Even ... temples, mosques and Gurudwaras” will be bound by the rule, the court said. (AC/Hindustan Times) ...Everyone, please hold your breath so we can hear the loudspeaker.