THE penalty for excessive honking is set to be increased to Rs 2,000 for every offence. According to an affidavit filed by the State government before the Bombay High Court in response to a PIL filed by city-based NGO Awaaz Foundation on the issue of noise pollution, the State Transport Department is planning to increase the fine for honking in silence zones from the current Rs 100 to Rs 2000. The proposal to increase the fine was discussed at a meeting held by Chief Secretary Johny Joseph to review the measures taken by various civic authorities and the police for reducing noise pollution. According to the minutes of the meeting, the fine for a first-time offender would be Rs 1,000 while for others it would be Rs 2000. The decision would require an amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act and a proposal has been sent to the Central government, the affidavit said. According to the affidavit, the State government will allocate responsibilities to different government departments regarding the various aspects of noise pollution. The affidavit states that various agencies like MMRDA and MSRDC would be given the responsibility of curbing noise from numerous infrastructure projects and traffic is to be regulated by the traffic police and the RTO. There are also plans to carry out noise mapping, which is to be done by various agencies. The affidavit further states that since 2004, the traffic police have collected fines of Rs 26,80,700 for honking and registered 37,259 cases. Joseph directed during the meeting that the Home Department provide adequate number of decibel metres to the police. As for fire crackers and loud-speakers, the police department has been directed to take action suo-motu, the affidavit says. The government will soon come out with the Bombay Prohibition and Regulation of Fireworks Rules, 2008, which has provisions for dealing with noise pollution due to firecrackers. A Division bench of Chief Justice Swatantra Kumar and Justice A P Deshpande has now adjourned the hearing till November 28.