Drives against noise pollution have not produced expected results
Towards the end of last year, two special drives were held in the city to curb rising levels of noise pollution.
While one was the ‘No Horn Day Campaign’ initiated in November by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the other was undertaken by the Transport Department to curb noise pollution.
During the month, the Transport Department booked 945 cases against motorists for noise pollution, caused either by excessive honking or by altering the adjustments of silencers in their vehicles. A fine of Rs. 300 for two-wheelers, Rs. 600 for four-wheelers and Rs. 900 for heavy vehicles was levied on errant motorists for causing noise pollution and also for emitting excessive smoke.
However, Joint Commissioner of Traffic (Enforcement) H.G. Kumar said that motorists continued to cause pollution even after they pay fine. “They pay the fine and forget the idea. There are about 42 lakh vehicles in the city and we cannot bring down noise levels without increasing the awareness among the public,” he said.
While the ‘No Horn Day Campaign’ was followed over eight weeks on every Monday, it only focussed on Koramangala as it was conducted in association with the Koramangala Residents’ Welfare Association and Pratham Motors.
About five areas were chosen within Koramangala where the noise levels were monitored, said a KSPCB representative, who added that the noise levels in the area came down by 4 or 5 per cent after the initiative. The KSPCB sought help of the traffic police, who levied fines on motorists who exceeded the permissible sound level of 55 decibels in residential areas and 65 decibels in commercial areas.
KSPCB chairman Vaman Acharya said the campaign would be taken up in other areas across the city as well. “Since, we don’t have enough manpower, we will introduce the initiative in one area each week. We carried out the campaign in K.R. Circle and Trinity Circle recently. Soon, it will be taken to other areas,” he said.
He said the KSPCB had approached the taxi drivers’ associations and autorickshaw drivers’ associations to help educate their members on taking measures to bring down noise pollution, especially by reducing honking.
“The KSPCB drive is mainly educational where volunteers create awareness about the need to reduce honking. They approach commuters at traffic signals and also have a ‘No Horn’ sticker that is put up on various vehicles to spread awareness,” Mr. Acharya added.
Keywords: noise pollution, KSPCB, Karnataka Transport Department
Making money out of punishment should not be the idea of fines. Instead the Government should go into the causes for people breaking a law and weed out them. I live in Koramangala, and I know how difficult it is for any one to drive in the crowded streets without honking.
We Bangaloreans care only about being ostentatious - agencies, by organizing campaigns to create an "AWARENESS" among people and residents, by organizing marathons in M.G road on Sunday mornings, neither of which fetch any results. If the police are really keen on inculcating discipline among vehicle owners, let them seize the vehicle for a brief period ranging between a fortnight and 2-3 months, besides a fine of 1000 rupees. Imposing a fine of 100 rupees for a violation is utterly ridiculous. If the vehicles are seized, at least out of the fear of being deprived of it, people tend to learn something. Another thing that needs to be examined is to ban the students from using 2 wheelers, which besides the nuisance of speed-biking and wheeling on the roads, is causing traffic jams during peak hours thereby increasing pollution. Students can use cars (WHICH NOT MANY OF THEM CAN AFFORD TO) or the public transport that allows them to travel at a subsidized rate.
I have been living in Bangkok for the last 10 years where 7 million vehicles are on the road and till now I would have heard not more than 20 horns for 10 years (2 horns/year). While in Bangalore from airport to my house in Banaswadi i hear more than 150 horns in less than 40 minutes of drive. All drivers (I am sorry) think that the car in front of them moves not on petrol/diesel but because of horn. When are we going to change?
I have a simple suggestion for traffic police. Go to all railway crossing gates daily and when the gate gets closed wait with a camera to click the photo of all vehicles that jump the lane (they think they are smarter than others patiently waiting in the Q)and come to the front, also record their number. Do it first in Goraguntana Pallaya. Put heavy fines for all these people who jump lanes and cause massive jams for hours. Do this daily so that government can generate revenue and also teach a lesson to all erring public. This is the only solution
That is a nice initiative by KSPCB. One hopes that it is enforced very well and that the road users abide by the rules. I am from Madras and it is glad to read that such things are happening in Bangalore. I wish that a similar law/rule is started in Madras as well. The loud honking, bright lights, etc. by the vehicles really cause problems. I wonder if the road users really know the rules of driving and if they have a concern for mankind! May GOD help us all in our country!
The gesture is great, but the symbolic stuff is usually forgotten. We need to change as a culture and stop using the horn all the time. How about a new definition of indecency?
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