Ask municipal bodies to act to reduce noise levels: HC to govt

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court (HC) on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to instruct all 27 municipal corporations across the state to implement recommendations made by the National Environment Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI) for reducing noise levels prevailing in urban areas.

Pursuant to earlier court orders, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had appointed NEERI to conduct noise mapping in all the municipal corporation areas across Maharashtra and submitted its report to the high court.

In its report, submitted through advocate Sadhana Mahashabde, NEERI has concluded that vehicular traffic and honking was the major source of noise pervasive in cities, and has recommended several long-term measures. In its recommendations, it has therefore stressed the need of curbing noise emanating from vehicular traffic and honking by adopting appropriate traffic management and by creating awareness among drivers.

It has also expressed the necessity to cover railway tracks from residential areas by noise barriers and vegetation cover and also

suggested changes in planning approaches such as dropping mixed development plans like mixing of residential and commercial or industrial areas.

The HC was hearing a bunch of public interest litigations filed by some activists complaining about violations of the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, especially during public celebration of festivals such as Ganeshotsav, Navratri and Dahi Handi.