Expand noise monitoring in Capital, enforce fines stringently: NGT panel

NEW DELHI: Mandated with devising a legal framework to regulate noise pollution in Delhi, the expert committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has submitted its final report, calling for the expansion of Delhi’s current noise monitoring network of 31 stations in proportion to the city’s area and population, while also suggesting that agencies other than the Delhi Police be empowered to act against violators.

At present, only the Delhi Police can taken penal action, while agencies such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board have no powers to take on-the-spot action against noise polluters.

The expert committee, headed by justice (retd.) SP Garg, has also asked for all agencies to increase the number of sound level meters (SLMS) currently available with them so that realtime measurement of ambient noise levels could take place.

According to the report, while the Delhi Police has 244 SLMS, the now-unified MCD has a total of 21 SLMS. NDMC and the revenue department have none, while the Delhi Cantonment

Board has just one.

“The committee has noted that the procurement of SLMS by the concerned local bodies has been highly unsatisfactory. Directions have been given to the local bodies to procure more SLMS at the earliest and the DPCC was directed to increase the number of monitoring stations proportionate to the area and population of Delhi,” the report, dated April 29, and put in the public domain on June 10, 2022, stated.

The report further said that in addition to civic agencies and other local bodies not having punitive powers under the Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, there is often confusion with regards to permissions being granted for the usage of loudspeakers. So, to clarify the situation, the environment department has been asked to issue a fresh notification.

“Though this notification is yet to be issued, Delhi Police has been designated as an ‘authority’ and directions have been issued that compliance of noise rules should be made mandatory in the prior permission (for using loudspeakers) and an undertaking may also be obtained,” the report said.

The committee also asked DPCC to identify vulnerable areas where noise levels are high and to share this data with the police.

D Saha, former head of CPCB’S air laboratory, said a noise monitoring network, similar to that of air quality monitoring stations, will make it easier to identify local hot spots across the city. “While traffic cannot be reduced, certain interventions can be taken in areas where the levels are exceedingly high,” he said.