An initiative of two foreign students Leonie Timmers and Katarzyna Trzpiola against noise pollution is receiving support from educational institutions and students in Ahmedabad. Students of law in the city have extended their support to the idea of observing September 5 as ‘No horn day’, envisioned by the two students who are interning with Paryavaran Mitra, a non-government organisation working on environment- and pollution-related issues.
On Monday, around 100 students of law colleges affiliated to Gujarat University organised an awareness programme on noise pollution and legal provisions in connection with this, at the Sir LA Shah Law College at Law Garden. At the event, Timmers made a presentation on the current situation of noise pollution in the city and the available legal provisions to curb this. She emphasised on self-discipline as the only way to reduce noise pollution.
“In my country, we use lights to signal when overtaking instead of horns,” Timmers said. She also talked about a survey that she carried out on what citizens of Ahmedabad think about noise pollution.
Citing the decibel levels registered in a study carried out by the LD College of
Engineering last December at various locations in the city, Timmers said, “Places that have been declared silence zones, such as the roads outside VS hospital and Gandhi Ashram, have a decibel level much greater than prescribed.”
Mayuri Pandya, principal in-charge of the Sir LA Shah Law College, referring to various legal provisions for control of noise pollution, said, “Though there are enough laws on noise pollution, their implementation is a problem. But the issue of noise pollution can be dealt with through self-awareness and a sensitivity that comes from within.”
“There is no coordination between the police department and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board for handling complaints in connection with noise pollution.Awareness is the only way to bring about a change,” said Mahesh Pandya, director, Paryavaran Mitra.
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