India Environment Portal Knowledge for change

About us Contact us
downtoearth-subscribe

Browse by subjects

Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding noise pollution and resultant health hazards, 03/10/2017

  • 03/10/2017

Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Subhash Datta Vs State of West Bengal & Others dated 03/10/2017 regarding noise pollution and resultant health hazards. In the affidavit/action taken report filed on behalf of the State PCB, it is stated that all together 273 sound limiters and noise meters respectively have been distributed to the various police authorities, viz., Kolkata Police, Birbhum Police, North 24 Parganas District Police, Sundarban Police District, Diamond Harbour District Police, Nadia District Police, Howrah Police Commissionerate and Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate. Tribunal directs the Municipal Corporation, the Municipality, Municipal Boards, different panchayats to ensure that one of the terms of the licences granted for letting out the audio systems shall include an additional condition that no audio system shall be let out without being fitted with sound limiter.

Apart from this, as maintenance of the limit of sound is a mandatory requirement under the law, no shop dealing with the sale of public audio systems anywhere in the state of West Bengal shall be permitted to sell such instruments without sound limiters as a compulsory accessory and, this condition shall be strictly enforced by the licensing authorities with the assistance of the police. We make it clear that the condition for use of sound limiter shall be applicable also for all the government and political functions. The above direction shall also be applicable to all the other states in the region.