The Hindu : 'Implement norms to check noise pollution'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 16, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

'Implement norms to check noise pollution'

By K. Manikanan

CHENNAI DEC. 15 . It is close to midnight and a cone speaker tied to an EB post continues to belt songs at a very high pitch. It is clear indication that the Tamil month of Maargazhi has arrived, ringing in a divine atmosphere, but also alarming many residents that an increase in noise pollution is imminent.

The focus has thus shifted towards the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the police to effectively implement the stipulated norms to keep the high decibel levels under check.

Effective implementation, because, even the highest courts in the land have regretted the lack of it. In 1995, the Madras High Court directed the creation of a separate cell in the office of the Commissioner of Police and in the offices of every Superintendent of Police in the districts to register complaints of violation and that action should be taken immediately.

At the City Commissioner's office, the response was that there was no special cell and complaints could be lodged at 100. The constable on duty at the helpline of a neighbouring district was not even aware of the requirement of a separate cell for noise pollution.

Even the Supreme Court issued an order in August 2000, which regretted lack of awareness among citizens and implementation authorities, about the rules to keep noise pollution under check. It clearly said the menace of noise pollution was rampant and for some reason or the other, the various rules were not enforced. It said noise pollution led to mental stress and annoyance coupled with physical problems and even law and order problems.

The court stated that ambient air quality standards in respect of noise should be 55 decibels in residential areas during the daytime (between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.) and 45 decibels in the night (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.)

Civic activists argued that the police were not equipped with the necessary instruments to measure decibel levels. While the Pollution Control Board had the instruments, it did not have the powers to deal with the offenders, something that could be done only by the police.

The activists argued that noise above the permitted levels, irrespective of whether it was due to songs, political meetings or any other source should be kept under check and it could be ensured only when there is effective coordination between these two government agencies.

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