Easing silent zone norms against SC orders: NGOs …Viju B
Mumbai: Anti-noise pollution activists and concerned citizens on Monday said that any move to relax silent zone norms will increase noise pollution levels and violate Supreme Court and Bombay High Court orders.
On Monday, organisers of some Ganesh mandals met guardian minister Jayant Patil and requested him to relax noise pollution norms for localities near educational institutions. The minister said a solution could be worked out without flouting the norms.
The noise rules were notified in 2000 by the ministry of environment and forests, and the Bombay High Court passed an order two years later that the use of loudspeakers in silent zones would not be allowed. Although the state filed a review petition asking for relaxation, it was rejected by Supreme Court in 2005. Awaaz Foundation filed a PIL, following which Bombay High Court had directed the state to demarcate silent zones in the city. Last year, BMC notified the silent zones.
‘No scope for alteration’
Chandra Iyengar, additional chief secretary home, along with other senior bureaucrats on Tuesday held a meeting to take a call on relaxation of silence zone norms for Ganpati mandals near educational institutes. “Nothing can be done. There is no scope to alter silence zone norms,’’ said a senior official.