Govt action against noise pollution not enough: Bombay HC

The state government of Maharashtra on Wednesday placed on record a communication from the Mumbai Police Commissioner to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), informing that strict warning had been issued to Senior Police Inspector Milind Idekar, Mahim police station, to allow the use of loudspeakers inside the police compound during the Mahim fair last year. The Mumbai police Chief has also issued a letter of displeasure to Shilvan Dhovale, ACP of the division, the Bombay High Court was informed.

The bench, however, said, "The government is taking this very casually. We had specifically asked the government about the action it proposes to take against them. However, this statement suggests that they wish to condone their act. Until we issue a contempt against the officers, our orders will not be implemented."

On an affidavit filed by Sumaira Abdulali, noise pollution activist, stating that the decibel readings recorded by her outside city hospitals were well above the prescribed maximum limits, a division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice AK Menon asked the state government, "What steps have you taken to reduce vehicular traffic noise pollution in the city, especially in silence zones and near hospitals?"

The court has asked the government to inform it by June of the steps it will take in this regard.

As per rules, the maximum decibel level permitted in a silence zone is 50 dB, while Abdulali said her recordings showed that decibel level outside Hinduja Hospital was 100 dB, 97.3 dB outside Sion Hospital, 96 dB outside Wadia Childrens Hospital, and 100.3 dB outside KEM Hospital.