The Bombay high court on Thursday directed the state government to issue a notification for demarcation of silence zones in the city in a week.

As per the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000, areas within 100 metres of educational institutions, courts, hospitals and religious places have to be demarcated as silence zones.

The order was passed on a public interest litigation filed by Awaaz Foundation on non-implementation of noise pollution reduction measures. Nine years have passed but silence zones have not been demarcated, petitioner's lawyer DJ Khambata told the court.

The court directed the principal secretary (home) to meet the police commissioner and representatives of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to decide logistics of demarcating and notifying the zones. They will look at measures to control noise pollution, especially during the general election.

Khambata told the court that in 1986 a court-appointed committee had said that no loudspeakers or amplifiers could be used in election campaigns. However, the state government was yet to act on the recommendation and had passed on the responsibility to the Election Commission.

Irked at government departments shifting blame and ignoring the doctrine of public accountability, Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar said control of noise pollution was of utmost importance to public health. The court told the government to state if measures undertaken have resulted in the reduction of noise.

Anshika Mishra/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication