Religious places to be declared as silence zones

Silence zones will be created around religious places too, the state government today told the Bombay High Court.

A notification has been issued, declaring the area within hundred meters of religious places as silence zones.

Awaz Foundation, a city-based NGO, had filed a PIL seeking implementation of Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, which contemplate creation of silence zones around educational places, courts, hospitals and religious places.

But a notification issued in April this year did not mention religious places.

Today, Anna Dani, principal secretary (appeals and security) filed an affidavit stating that supplementary notification has been issued to include religious places, and has been circulated to all civic bodies in the state.

In Mumbai, the Municipal Corporation has identified 1313 religious places where silence zone will be created.

Affidavit also states that ahead of the Ganesh Festival, when loudspeakers are used liberally, guidelines for preventing noise pollution have been provided to Ganesh Mandals.

Regarding action against honking and other noise-related offenses, Dani says that between January and July 21; some 67,873 cases were registered and fine of Rs 43,82,100 in total was collected.