Honking in Maha silence zones to be made punishable offence
Soon, needless honking in silence zones will be punishable offences in Maharashtra. The state government on Thursday informed Bombay high court that it was awaiting presidential assent for the implementation of provisions of the Maharashtra Transport and Road Safety Act, 2017, which penalises needless honking in silence zones.
Section 20 of the Act prohibits drivers from sounding horns “needlessly or continuously or more than what is necessary to ensure safety”, from blowing horns in silence zones, from using multi-toned horns creating harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise, or from driving vehicles after making modification in exhaust leading to creation of undue noise.
Section 23 of the Act provides penalty of ₹2,000 for each contravention. The enactment has been passed by the Maharashtra Assembly in April 2017, but is yet to be brought into force, as the state government is awaiting presidential assent, advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhkoni said.
Kumbhakoni was responding to a bunch of PILs filed by activists like Dr Yashwant Oke, Sumera Abdulali of Aawaz Foundation, and Thane-based activist Dr Mahesh Bedekar, complaining about fragrant violations of the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, especially during public celebration of religious festivals such as Ganeshotsav, Navratri and Dahi Handi and inaction of authorities even if complaints were lodged against the same.
The advocate general also informed court that the state government has decided to conduct noise mapping of 27 cities across Maharashtra, the urban area within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and Nagpur will be covered in the first phase. According to an affidavit filed by the government, Vijay Kharat, assistant inspector general of police, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued work order to NEERI for noise mapping of these cities.