State takes action on noise pollution outside courts; PIL disposed

Mumbai, Dec 14 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today disposed of a public interest litigation filed by city Advocate Udayan Shah alleging that the noise pollution around the courts far exceeded than permissible limits following which the state has taken extensive measures to curb the same.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice H S Bedi and Justice V M Kanade was told that more than 900 motorists had been booked for violating noise pollution norms and honking in areas marked as silent zones around the High Court, Small Causes Court and other courts.

While decibel measure metres had been installed near the Small Causes Court, adequate number of signs were also put up in the vicinity of the High Court as well as City Civil Court.

To create awareness among the motorists to avoid honking, electronic banners had been installed at 11 major junctions across the city.

Majority of the noise pollution at major junctions was taking place due to road repair and construction leading to traffic diversions, especially the one at Metro Cinema where a subway is under construction, said the report submitted by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

Also, the Traffic Control branch is awaiting the report of a study conducted by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to ascertain the causes of noise pollution. Necessary steps and measures will be taken following the recommendation of the report.

UNI ARM GB RL KN2127