West Bengal police have removed or ordered the removal of loudspeakers from nearly 1,500 religious institutions across the state as part of a campaign against noise pollution, according to a report by The Times of India.The two-day drive targeted 1,276 mosques and 199 temples for allegedly exceeding permitted noise levels. Police authorities instructed the institutions to remove loudspeakers and comply with existing noise control regulations.Senior police officials said the action was taken equally against all religious establishments without discrimination. They said the campaign was aimed at encouraging religious institutions to follow environmental and sound pollution rules.Under West Bengal’s Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, prior police permission is required to use loudspeakers between 6:00am and 10:00pm. The rules also require the use of sound limiters and restrict noise levels within prescribed limits ranging from 50 to 75 decibels.Representatives of several mosque and temple committees, however, told the media that local police had only given verbal instructions to remove loudspeakers. They said no written notice had been provided by the authorities.