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Source: Times of India
Tribunal sounds out warning over sirens
By
Chittaranjan Tembhekar | Jan 14, 2013, 01.08 AM
IST
MUMBAI:
Sirens and multi-tone horns in vehicles that flout the prescribed decibel
levels are a serious hazard to citizens, said the national green tribunal in its judgment. The
tribunal has directed the police not to allow private vehicles to use such
devices sirens or multi-tone horns
in residential areas, silence zones and in the vicinity of educational
institutes, hospitals and sensitive areas. It wants the police not to allow
such vehicles during nighttime, except for emergencies. and under exceptional
circumstances. On the same line the tribunal asks police to restrict the sound
of loud speakers to the prevailing noise pollution rules and regulations.
The tribunal headed by Dr G K Pandey and Justice A S Naidu made these observations after over Dileep Nevatia, a senior citizen residing in Worli, filed a plea alleging violation of the noise pollution (regulation and control) rules, 2000 by the vehicles using such sirens. According to Nevatia, these vehicles emitted sounds far "in excess of the levels affecting the ambient quality of noise", which goes beyond the prescribed standards as provided under the rules.
Nevatia requested the tribunal to ask the government agencies to specify standards for sirens and multi-tone horns and ban vehicles breaching noise standards while using them.
"We find that the controversy in issue is with regard to noise caused by un-restricted use of sirens and multi-tone horns fitted to different vehicles.
No standard is also specified with regard to use of horns and sirens in ambulances and police vehicles. Their constant use much above the noise standard under the provisions of noise pollution rules causes immense hardship to common people and poses serious effects on human health. There is urgent necessity to evolve specific standards for sirens and multi-tone horns used in different vehicles," the judgment directing the Centre and all state governments stated. The jury observed that this menace had affected the country.
"In 1989, the Centre notified the Central Motor Vehicle Rules," said Nevatia. "They empower the transport commissioner to fix and regulate standards of sound levels of sirens. However, no standards have been fixed for the last 23 years," he added.
According to him noise pollution rules have set standards of noise for silent, residential, commercial and industrial areas but the vehicle sirens are far exceeding these levels.
"On enquiring with the office of the transport commissioner, it was informed that no person or authority in Maharashtra has been authorized to fix sirens. According to the police, there are 4,164 police vehicles fitted with sirens that are evidently unauthorized," he said. "Noise monitoring reports of vehicles with sirens the offices of the DGP, police chief and on Worli Seaface suggest that levels were going up to 92.3 dB in residential areas and upto 97.2 dB in silence zones," he pointed out. The tribunal has directed the state DGP to ensure that no private vehicle uses sirens or multi-tone horns in residential and silence zones and in the vicinity of educational institutions, hospitals and other sensitive areas and also during night except emergencies and under exceptional circumstances.
"The DGP shall ensure and take precautions that residents and residential areas are not affected by the indiscriminate use of loudspeakers during nighttime in other words the use of loud speaker should be strictly restricted to the prevailing Rules and Regulations ," the tribunal said in its directives the copy of which is with TOI.
The tribunal directed the ministry of road transport and highways to notify the standards for sirens and multi-tone horns used by different vehicles either on government duty or otherwise within three months.
"Maharashtra state and the transport commissioner will take steps to notify the standards for sirens and multi-tone horns for different zones, within one month from the date of notification," the judgment stated. "The transport commissioner must ensure that the number of vehicles installed with sirens and multi-tone sirens are limited to the bare minimum so as to comply with ambient air quality standards as specified in the Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000," the judgment added.
The tribunal headed by Dr G K Pandey and Justice A S Naidu made these observations after over Dileep Nevatia, a senior citizen residing in Worli, filed a plea alleging violation of the noise pollution (regulation and control) rules, 2000 by the vehicles using such sirens. According to Nevatia, these vehicles emitted sounds far "in excess of the levels affecting the ambient quality of noise", which goes beyond the prescribed standards as provided under the rules.
Nevatia requested the tribunal to ask the government agencies to specify standards for sirens and multi-tone horns and ban vehicles breaching noise standards while using them.
"We find that the controversy in issue is with regard to noise caused by un-restricted use of sirens and multi-tone horns fitted to different vehicles.
No standard is also specified with regard to use of horns and sirens in ambulances and police vehicles. Their constant use much above the noise standard under the provisions of noise pollution rules causes immense hardship to common people and poses serious effects on human health. There is urgent necessity to evolve specific standards for sirens and multi-tone horns used in different vehicles," the judgment directing the Centre and all state governments stated. The jury observed that this menace had affected the country.
"In 1989, the Centre notified the Central Motor Vehicle Rules," said Nevatia. "They empower the transport commissioner to fix and regulate standards of sound levels of sirens. However, no standards have been fixed for the last 23 years," he added.
According to him noise pollution rules have set standards of noise for silent, residential, commercial and industrial areas but the vehicle sirens are far exceeding these levels.
"On enquiring with the office of the transport commissioner, it was informed that no person or authority in Maharashtra has been authorized to fix sirens. According to the police, there are 4,164 police vehicles fitted with sirens that are evidently unauthorized," he said. "Noise monitoring reports of vehicles with sirens the offices of the DGP, police chief and on Worli Seaface suggest that levels were going up to 92.3 dB in residential areas and upto 97.2 dB in silence zones," he pointed out. The tribunal has directed the state DGP to ensure that no private vehicle uses sirens or multi-tone horns in residential and silence zones and in the vicinity of educational institutions, hospitals and other sensitive areas and also during night except emergencies and under exceptional circumstances.
"The DGP shall ensure and take precautions that residents and residential areas are not affected by the indiscriminate use of loudspeakers during nighttime in other words the use of loud speaker should be strictly restricted to the prevailing Rules and Regulations ," the tribunal said in its directives the copy of which is with TOI.
The tribunal directed the ministry of road transport and highways to notify the standards for sirens and multi-tone horns used by different vehicles either on government duty or otherwise within three months.
"Maharashtra state and the transport commissioner will take steps to notify the standards for sirens and multi-tone horns for different zones, within one month from the date of notification," the judgment stated. "The transport commissioner must ensure that the number of vehicles installed with sirens and multi-tone sirens are limited to the bare minimum so as to comply with ambient air quality standards as specified in the Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000," the judgment added.
Green tribunal cracks whip on noise pollution
TNN
| Jan 14, 2013, 01.04 AM IST
NEW
DELHI: Fond of making an impression with that extra loud horn in your car? The
next time you go for 'pollution under check' (PUC) certification, it is likely
you won't get it if your car is found to be too noisy.
Following a PIL, National Green Tribunal has passed an order to curb noise pollution in Delhi, outlining actions that include making noise pollution a compoundable offence.
Expert member G K Pandey and acting chairperson Justice A S Naidu have said "noise pollution not only causes annoyance but also leads to adverse health impacts like rise of blood pressure, hearing impairment, neurological disorders". It may slow down development of children's mental capacity, they added.
The bench has directed the member secretary of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to establish and run a 24x7 call centre for registering complaints.
DPCC will draw up an action plan, including a monitoring and surveillance system, to control noise pollution in industrial and institutional areas, and hospitals. Generator sets of 5KVA and above will banned in residential areas from 10pm to 6am.
The transport department has been directed to include the status of the pressure horn in a vehicle while issuing PUCs. Manufacturing, distribution and sale of pressure horns and modification of silencers in vehicles may also be banned and the fine for violation may be increased. Heavy vehicles with pressure horns should be prohibited from entering the city.
The tribunal has asked traffic cops to act against polluting vehicles. Delhi Police will have to confiscate polluting articles following complaints from the call centre and submit these items before the area sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) within 24 hours of the seizure. Action should also be taken against errant religious places. SDMs will visit these places and remove installations causing pollution.
The education department has been told to incorporate related materials in the curriculum.
Following a PIL, National Green Tribunal has passed an order to curb noise pollution in Delhi, outlining actions that include making noise pollution a compoundable offence.
Expert member G K Pandey and acting chairperson Justice A S Naidu have said "noise pollution not only causes annoyance but also leads to adverse health impacts like rise of blood pressure, hearing impairment, neurological disorders". It may slow down development of children's mental capacity, they added.
The bench has directed the member secretary of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to establish and run a 24x7 call centre for registering complaints.
DPCC will draw up an action plan, including a monitoring and surveillance system, to control noise pollution in industrial and institutional areas, and hospitals. Generator sets of 5KVA and above will banned in residential areas from 10pm to 6am.
The transport department has been directed to include the status of the pressure horn in a vehicle while issuing PUCs. Manufacturing, distribution and sale of pressure horns and modification of silencers in vehicles may also be banned and the fine for violation may be increased. Heavy vehicles with pressure horns should be prohibited from entering the city.
The tribunal has asked traffic cops to act against polluting vehicles. Delhi Police will have to confiscate polluting articles following complaints from the call centre and submit these items before the area sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) within 24 hours of the seizure. Action should also be taken against errant religious places. SDMs will visit these places and remove installations causing pollution.
The education department has been told to incorporate related materials in the curriculum.
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