MCH deaf to noise pollution?

By K. Srinivas Reddy

HYDERABAD, JAN. 23. Strange but true. Rules framed by the Centre for checking noise pollution have been rendered ineffective for want of a formal notification to be issued by the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH).

Be it the ear-splitting air horns or the high-decibel sound systems in a cinema theatre, much discussion has taken place on the increasing level of noise pollution in the city. But, nothing concrete has been done to check the menace, which has been `silently' affecting every citizen in this city.

The non-implementation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, promulgated by the Centre under the Environment (Protection) Act, is being traced to two major factors. The non- availability of equipment to determine the level of noise emitted from a source, and of course, a formal notification by the MCH demarcating various zones in the city.

At least one hurdle for implementation of rules seems to have been overcome with the city police initiating the process to acquire 10 pieces of noise measuring equipment. ``We will shortly get the equipment,'' the Commissioner of Police, Mr. P. Ramulu, disclosed here on Tuesday. The city police is spending about Rs. 1 lakh for procuring these Taiwan-made instruments. But, even these cannot be used unless the MCH notified the zones in the city.

``We have written to the MCH in October last asking them to demarcate the zonal boundaries. But, we have not been intimated about any follow-up action so far,'' the DCP (Traffic), Mr. M.V. Dinakar Prasad, said. Technically, the twin cities have to be divided into industrial, commercial, residential and silent zones, for which different decibel (dB) limits are prescribed during day and night timings. A formal notification to this effect has to be issued by the MCH before the rules can be implemented.

According to the rules notified by the State Government, the noise level should be within the limits of 75 dB in day and 70 dB in night in industrial area, 65 dB in day and 55 dB in night in commercial areas, 55 dB in day and 45 dB in residential areas and 50 dB in day and 40 dB in nights in silent zones. A silent zone is defined as an area comprising 100 metres around educational institutions, hospitals and court buildings.

The rules stipulate that the Road Transport Authority shall ensure that no vehicle shall be registered or its registration renewed ``unless the horn fitted in the vehicles meets the prescribed standards''. The rules also stipulate that there shall be no rattling noises from the body of the vehicles.

An interesting clause in the rule is that no audio system within the vehicle should produce noise of more than 75 dB at a two- metre distance from the vehicle. ``The audio systems of vehicles shall not be heard more than seven metres away from the vehicles.'' The multi-toned horns or accessories for audio alarms, indicators providing noise are also to be checked by the RTA.

Those violating these rules are liable to be imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000 for the first offence, Rs. 2,000 for the subsequent offence. For the second offense, the vehicle mounted audio system or accessories can be removed and confiscated in addition to the other penalties. Under section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, a `proven offender' can be punished with imprisonment for a term extending upto five years with fine which could extend up to Rs. 1 lakh or with both.

In case of continuation of the contravention, the additional fine could be Rs. 5,000 per every day, and if the contravention continued beyond a period of one year and after the date of conviction, the offender is punishable with imprisonment for a term extending up to seven years.

Police officers say noise pollution could be contained to a large extent if only the rules could be implemented. But for an inexplicable reason, the town planning officials of the MCH chose not to demarcate the zones despite the order G.O.Rt. No. 227 issued on July 11, 2000, ostensibly `coming into force with immediate effect'. Surprisingly, without realising that the rules cannot be enforced because of non-demarcation of zones, circulars and memoranda are routinely forwarded by the DGP office to Superintendents of Police and Commissioners of Police asking them to ``ensure the strict implementation of the above act and rules''.

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