State deaf to high decibels
Smita Deshmukh
Noise and air pollution levels soared way over permissible limits during the
recently-concluded festival season. Yet, the state government has taken no
decisive step to ensure that the rules are not violated again.
While the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has sent its latest
report on noise levels during Ganesh and Diwali festivals to the Chief
Controller of Explosives, Nagpur, the state environment department insists
the only way the violations can be controlled is by effective police action.
Amid the slow response from government agencies on the issue, a Public
Interest Litigation (PIL) by city activist GR Vora is now looked upon by
noise activists as the only recourse for firm action.
The MPCB report clearly points at higher noise levels during the monitoring
period and pinpointed fire cracker and traffic as the main culprits, causing
high levels of air pollution, particularly in terms of Nitrogen Oxides and
fine dust.
Despite high levels of smoke and noise, there is still no roadmap to control
the same.
“It is a tough task and only a big campaign – like National Noise Quality
Control Programme – can bring in some change,” insists DB Boralkar, member
secretary, MPCB.
Sensing more traffic on the new city roads, the MPCB has already directed
the home department to install noise barriers on highways and new link
roads. Also, the growing noise generated by community events, fast-moving
consumer products like TV, air-conditioners and generators along with
growing number of heavy vehicles is causing havoc in big cities. “We still
don’t have a system to daily monitor noise levels at main junctions like we
do in case of air quality,” added Boralkar.
As they prepare to file an affidavit in the PIL, state environment
department officials have blamed cops for the massive noise violations
during the festival season. “If the home department takes a strict view of
the situation, we can achieve success,” said an official.