Noise norms: cops can stop the music on their own

To get your neighbour to stop playing loud music late at night, you no longer need incur his lifelong hostility by complaining to the police.

To get your neighbour to stop playing loud music late at night, you no longer need incur his lifelong hostility by complaining to the police.

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Contrary to previous norms, the new noise pollution rules made by the environment ministry make it the police’s duty to stop loud noises after 10 p.m. — even if no one has complained.

The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules notified on Monday empowers district administration and police to suo moto stop sources of noise pollution.

Incorporating various earlier directions by the Supreme Court, the new norms set the permissible noise level at no more than five decibels between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Five decibels is the moderate volume of sound from your television.

For just 15 days, at the peak of the marriage and festival season, two extra hours of noisy merrymaking will be allowed — up to midnight. “It’s a small step in making our cities less noisy,” said Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.