Hauz Khas bars, restaurants fined over violating noise pollution norms

The applicant had said that noise pollution is being caused in the area with the bars and restaurants concerned not taking any measures to soundproof their premises and playing loud music even late at night. After hearing the matter last month, the NGT had asked that notices be issued to the respondents for their replies to the points in the application.

Hauz Khas sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Mukesh Kumar has submitted before the NGT that a joint inspection of the bars and restaurants in Hauz Khas Village was carried out by the tehsildar and the local police earlier this month. While two of the respondents named in the application were found to be closed, one along with other bars was found allegedly violating noise pollution norms.

The SDM has submitted that environmental compensation has been imposed on the violators with directions to deposit the amount in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s account.

The station house officer of Safdarjung Enclave has also been directed to seize musical equipment of the bars and restaurants found violating norms.

The tehsildar’s report notes that “high-pitch” music was observed at five premises.

In orders issued on May 27, the Hauz Khas SDM has imposed an environmental compensation amount of Rs. 10,000 each on ‘Musical String’, ‘Summer House’, ‘The Record Room’, ‘Monkey Boy,’ and ‘The Heaven Box’.