Errant officials to be booked for noise levels: HC

MUMBAI:THE Bombay high court (HC) reiterated its order regarding flouting of noise pollution norms during upcoming festivals and warned that contempt proceedings will be initiated against authorities, in whose areas the norms are flouted.

The court further directed revenue officials to visit pandals that will be erected during the festivals and ensure that they do not flout rules or cause inconvenience to the public.

A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla were hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Dr Mahesh Bedekar seeking directions to curb noise violations in Thane.

During the hearing, the issue of noise violations during festivals was brought up.

The high court not only took note of noise violations, but also the illegal pandals that are erected on roads during Ganesh Chaturthi beyond the permissible limits.

On Tuesday, the bench, while referring to the state-wide noise mapping report prepared and submitted in the high court by the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), stressed on the need for the state and local authorities to ensure that noise levels were brought down to permissible limits and also stressed on the need for restricting the size of pandals.

“The tolerant attitude of the authorities towards pandals and noise violations has resulted in flouting of court orders that have been passed over the last two years. However, the same will be dealt with severely and contempt proceedings will be initiated against officials, who have failed to keep both violations in

check,” said the bench.

The bench further directed the state to issue notices to all concerned officials and posted the matter for further hearing on September 12.

The court said it will hear compliance by the end of September.