‘SC directive on noise still binding on state’

Mumbai public who feels they have been greatly inconvenienced by festive noise pollution needs not lose hope.

An expert on noise pollution rules said, “Residents must dial 100 and register those breaching decibel levels and police will be compelled to take cognisance. More people should dial and complain, is what I can say.”

Officials say it is still binding on the police to take cognisance of the complaints and confiscate equipment causing noise pollution.

“There is no new Government Resolution which has changed the existing norms. The decibel level too cannot be changed since the rules are still binding, hence police will have to lodge complaints and act upon it,” said the expert.

Environmentalists, doctors especially pediatricians and litigants believe this is a public cause and all is not lost for them. Retired police officials too believe that the state government need to pay heed to the public cause.

“The SC directions still stand valid and there are specific directions for use of loudspeakers and there are 15 days of exception,” said retired DGP P N Pasricha.

“The state has to implement such rules to protect public health, especially of our next generation. We should push to preserve our environment and mitigate noise pollution,” Pasricha said.

The state government has singled out one judge, Justice Abhay Oka of the Bombay High Court, as being “biased” against it in the noise pollution hearing and got him shunted out of the cases.

The apex court directed that noise levels at boundary of public place, where loudspeaker or public address system or any other noise source is being used shall not exceed 10 dB(A) above ambient noise standards for area or 75 dB(A) whichever is lower – beating of drum or tom-tom or blow of trumpet or beat or sound of any instrument or use of any sound amplifier at night (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.).

Advocate Manish Pable said the PIL is based on protection of public health and the government has played into the hands of party workers for their vested interests. “There is zero commercial interest in this case for all parties. It is purely for a public cause for environmental and health reasons. The government has played into the desperate attempts of political agenda set by few organisations and their party workers,” Pable said.

The litigants meanwhile are contemplating all options and will approach Supreme Court after attending session of the special bench headed by Justice Anoop Mohta and Justice G S Kulkarni on Monday.

Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation said, “We will finalise our strategy after the Monday mentioning. We all litigants are exploring all best possible ways. We request residents to record the noise levels on their cell phones sent it to the chief minister.”