BMC’s tough action plan on silent zones 5-year jail or Rs 1 lakh fine for noise pollution

The state government has decided to implement the norms of the Environment Protection Act in letter and spirit, announcing a fine of Rs one lakh and imprisonment of up to five years for violation of rules in silence zones.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the government stated there are 110 silence zones declared in the jurisdiction of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). As directed by the Bombay High Court, Mumbai Police has restricted the use of loudspeakers, instruments and bursting crackers from 10 pm at night to 6am in the morning.

The police appealed residence to come forward and register complaints of violation of noise pollution during the upcoming festival season. “The name of the complainant will kept secret,” assured Manjunath Shinge, deputy commissioner of police.

There are four zones — industrial, commercial, residential and silence. For industrial zones, the noise limit is 75 (in daytime) and 70 (at night) respectively. In commercial zones, the limit is 65 and 60, while for residential, it is 55 and 45 and in silence zones, it is restricted to 50 and 40 decibel respectively. Mumbai University, Bombay High Court, educational institutions like the Government Law College and SNDT Women College, as well as JJ Hospital and Jaslok Hospital are in the list of 110 silence zones across Mumbai and its suburbs.

The government said the complaints regarding violation of noise pollution norms in silence zones during festivals could be lodged at the police helpline number 100. Moreover, complaints can be sent to: mcr.cp.mum@mahapolice.g ov.in

The police appealed to residents to come forward and register complaints of violation of noise pollution during the upcoming festival season