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‘Noice pollution violators getting away with paltry fines’

Dr YT Oke, a physician from Vile Parle, formed the Anti-Noise Pollution Committee in 1984 to campaign against the nuisance.

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Dr YT Oke, a physician from Vile Parle, formed the Anti-Noise Pollution Committee in 1984 to campaign against the nuisance.
In an interview to DNA, Dr Oke explains the hazards of noise pollution. Excerpts from the interview: 

Do you think that there is more awareness now among citizens and government authorities on hazards of excessive noise?
Yes definitely. When we started our campaign to sensitise people and government agencies about health hazards from noise, the refrain was: we are disturbed by noise from firecrackers, traffic and open air exhibition of cinema, but what can we do? If we complain, the police will not act on it. Besides, we do not want to antagonise our neighbours by complaining about them.  Now, people are prepared to confront the issue. More and more people are agreeable that noise is disturbing.

Are laws now adequate to control noise pollution?
Laws are adequate. Police now largely act on complaints within 10 to 15 minutes of telephone calls about noise limit violations.

Do you think police are doing their duty adequately?
It is seen that police still register complaints under the Bombay Police Act when there are now special laws to deal with noise pollution. Under the Bombay Police Act, offenders can get away with a fine. But the Environment Protection Act and the Noise Pollution Rules are more stringent and elaborate. You cannot use two laws to prosecute people for the same offence. When there is a central act like the EP Act, it is supreme and it should be used.  

So offenders are getting away.
Offenders get away by paying a small fine under the Bombay Police Act. That is how politicians and celebrities have got away after violating noise rules.

You have said that when people say they are getting used to noise, it could mean that they have suffered hearing loss.
When I met the then city police commissioner, he told me that he found his new office quite noisy as it is situated next to Crawford Market. There was no air-conditioning then and his windows opened into the road outside. Later, he told me that he was getting used to the noise. I told him perhaps he had suffered hearing loss. He was upset. I suggested that he undergo audiometry to find out whether he had noise induced hearing loss.

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