Cops must go after organisations to curb noise menace: Sumaira Abdulali

While the Mumbai police attempt to enforce the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act by taking strict action against individual violators, experts feel this won't do much to curb the nuisance of noise pollution, as in that case, mostly organisations are involved. They furthet claimed that these organisations don't take police action in individual cases seriously.

Anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira Abdulali said that in India, involvement of political parties in these matters further encourages people to violate the norms. "I remember in 2008, as many as 600 cases of sound pollution were registered against various organisations in Mumbai. To my knowledge, however, political leader Ajit Pawar ordered the state to withdraw all those cases," she said.

She further said that while prosecuting individual accused, the government's intention should be sincere. "Now that the law is stringent enough and the police have already started acting against individuals, they should not go on the back foot while criminalising such people and organisations," she said.

Abdulali added, "The immediate step that the police need to take is to seize the equipment of such organisations and then file a criminal case against the trustees and the workers. The issue of noise pollution is not as simple as it appears. It can cost an ailing person his or her life. It takes a toll on infants as well. So, it is high time to get serious now."