Journalism of Courage
Even as the state government has issued a 5 am deadline for party revellers, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Wednesday issued directions to the police to initiate action against revellers if they create excessive noise on the streets on December 31.
Hearing an application filed on behalf of one Dr Ravindra Bhusari, the bench of Justice V R Kingaonkar and Dr Ajay Deshpande directed that “mobile vehicles mounted with DJ systems or similar music systems creating sound in excessive decibels than permissible limits which are not tested at the source by the RTOs shall be disallowed to be operated and plied on the road by the RTOs and traffic police”. The order said these vehicles “may be identified through CCTVs operating in the city or by the traffic police who may contact each other through control rooms”.
The bench further said the inspector general of police should give instructions to the traffic police accordingly. “Authorities are free to take appropriate action, including confiscation of such vehicles,” said the bench. The tribunal added that after confiscation of vehicles it would pass the necessary orders and directions.
The applicant had highlighted the issue of such music systems and alleged that Noise Control Rules 2000 as well as Supreme Court and High Court guidelines on controlling noise pollution were regularly violated.
Advocate Asim Sarode, who is representing the applicant, said even though the bench issued its directions to the state police and the RTO, the order would be applicable throughout the country. In the interim order, the NGT has said the real question is how to arrest such menace. “The police may take care of the behaviour group of such people creating excessive noise and issue warning unless there is any obscene behaviour of such group while celebrating such festivities,” said the NGT.
