Residents of Indiranagar and Koramangala, known as the pub hubs of the city, have for long complained about the lack of implementation of various rules and regulations, apart from not getting the requisite clearances from the civic agencies concerned.
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to submit details on whether areas in the city and State have been categorised as industrial, commercial, residential, and silence zones under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, for maintaining noise levels specified for each type of zone.
The court also directed the State to inform the procedure that would be followed on receipt of a complaint by the police through the toll-free number — 100 — about noise pollution, and steps taken for creating awareness among the public that they can make a telephone call to 100 even to lodge a complaint about noise pollution.
Nitin Seshadri from Koramangala pointed out that high noise levels was not a one-off case. “This is a problem that we have to encounter every Friday and Saturday,” he said and added that as per the Revised Master Plan 2015, the residential areas are clearly laid out. “All the civic authorities have to do is to ensure that commercialisation in the residential zones is curtailed,” he said.
With the police admitting that they need to procure new equipment to gauge noise levels, he said one did not require equipment to know that the noise levels in the two localities are above the permissible limit. “There are so many rooftop pubs and bars playing blaring music. These outlets don't have requisite permission or clearances, and are operating illegally,” he alleged.
The court had earlier directed the police to conduct surprise inspections, check noise levels and submit an affidavit. Last Friday, Police Commissioner Alok Kumar visited Koramangala and Indiranagar. But, residents had called the ‘surprise inspection’ a farce.
