Govt fixes noise standard for generator sets

quot;The level of sound should fall by five DBA every five years from September 2002,quot; it said.

A notification on fixation of the noise standards had already been approved by the Union Law Ministry and it would soon be published in the official gazette, government counsel V P Sharma told the court.

Sharma said the noise standard for diesel generators between 15 KVA and 500 KVA capacity had already been notified by the government under the Envirnoment Protection Act,1986.

However, the standard fixed by the ministry was strongly contested by two major generator manufacturers 8212; Shriram Honda and Birla Yamaha 8212; as their counsel contended that these were not fixed according to the law.

The bench while disposing of two PILs on the issue, said it was not expressing any opinion on the quot;correctnessquot; of the standard fixed by the ministry and CPCB. The two manufacturers were at liberty to challenge them, the court said.