The KSRTC and city buses are contributing to noise pollution in the city by using air horns that do not conform to the standards prescribed for ambient air quality in respect of noise.
Not a single horn fitted in the 100 KSRTC and city buses, checked on Monday, conformed to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
The threshold limit for noise pollution in commercial areas is fixed at 65 decibels during day (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
The minimum sound emitted from horns during a check by officials of the Mysuru city traffic police and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Monday was 71 dB.
Of the buses checked at suburban bus-stand and city bus-stand, the maximum sound measured was 110 dB while the average was 87.2 dB, the Board’s environmental officer Niranjan told The Hindu .
Violation of rules
The gross violation of noise pollution rules by KSRTC and city buses has been communicated to the Divisional Controller of KSRTC in Mysuru by the city traffic police officials.
“They have assured to take necessary steps to bring the sound within permissible limits,” a traffic police official said.
Mr. Niranjan pointed out that the use of air horns and blow horns had been prohibited and said it was the duty of the Road Transport Officer (RTO) to regulate the use of horns in vehicles.
Monday’s testing was conducted in the wake of complaints received by the Police Department against the high decibel noise by buses plying on city roads.
The traffic police in coordination with KSPCB officials will soon conduct a similar check on private buses.
