Tackling noise pollution: ‘Track complaints to check effectiveness’

While the Bombay high court (HC) had put the onus of tackling noise pollution on the police, anti-noise campaigners said citizens also need to keep tracking their complaints in order to check whether the police follow the order.

While the Bombay high court (HC) had put the onus of tackling noise pollution on the police, anti-noise campaigners said citizens also need to keep tracking their complaints in order to check whether the police follow the order.

Noise-pollution

“The two important parts from Monday’s order that will finally help citizens are – who to complain to and what the law exactly states,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation. “However, it is important to see whether the complaints are being followed up.”

Dr Mahesh Bedekar, who had filed a PIL in 2010 asking whether public roads can be obstructed for any kind of celebrations and the violation of noise pollution rules, said, “According to SC guidelines from 2005 based on a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, something related to public health has to be taken seriously.”

Bedekar said the reason authorities had not taken any action in the past five years was because of politicisation of festivals. “Noise levels were purposely being elevated during festivals and since people did not know the rules, they were helpless,” he said.