Gurugram: Only 684 vehicles fined for sound pollution in 6 years

GURUGRAM: Only 684 vehicles have been challaned since 2013 — on an average 114 a year — for violating decibel norms in a city where noise pollution is fast assuming deafening proportions.
Further, the details furnished by the challaning wing of the city’s traffic police in response to an RTI application reveal that only 16 trucks, 50 cars and 152 bikes have been fined for noise pollution in the past six years or so.



Interestingly, autorickshaws have emerged as the main culprit as far as noise pollution is concerned with 372 such vehicles receiving challans during the same period. Only two tractors and four dumpers have been fined in these years. Experts believe the numbers underline lack of sincerity or awareness, or both, on part of traffic cops in strict enforcement of sound pollution norms in the city, where thousands of personal and commercial vehicles, including trucks, ply on the roads daily. A closer look at the numbers shows a maximum of 180 challans were issued in 2017 while only 40 vehicles were fined till May this year for using non-functional silencers and high-volume music players.

Moreover, traffic cops penalised 109 vehicles in 2016, 87 in 2015, 119 in 2014 and only 149 vehicles in 2013. A total of Rs 6.84 lakh has been collected by the traffic police as fine in this regard between 2013 and 2018 (May).

“Nobody used to talk about air pollution in Gurugram some 30 years ago. However, now it has become a major health hazard. Similarly, noise pollution is a silent killer, which is turning worse day by day. But traffic cops are not well aware of the action they should take to tackle noise pollution.

There is a need to create awareness among both police and public about noise pollution and its ill-effects,” said Aseem Takyar, an RTI activist who had filed the petition with the traffic police, seeking stricter implementation of rules banning modified motorcycles that produce high-decibel noise.

Jasvinder Singh Dhir, a resident who has been working on noise pollution in Gurugram and Delhi, said the problem was the police were not well-equipped to handle noise pollution cases. “No police station has a sound meter. Most of the times, cops don’t know what action is to be taken if anybody files a complaint or they find any noisy vehicle. Cops, therefore, need training from Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Also, there is a need for public to be more aware. Residents, who want to file complaints regarding noise pollution, can take it up with the sub-divisional magistrate concerned under Section 133 of CrPC,” he added.

According to guidelines laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), noise level shouldn’t be more than 55 decibel (dB) in residential areas, 65 dB in commercial areas and 75 dB in industrial areas. Near sensitive areas, such as hospitals, noise levels shouldn’t exceed 45 dB.

Similarly, at night the limits are 45 dB in residential areas, 55dB in commercial areas and 70dB in industrial areas. But noise pollution levels are measured in the city only during Diwali.

“Noise pollution monitoring generally happens only during Diwali. Besides, we take stock of the situation if we get any complaint. But, there is no meter installed to take regular measures,” said an HSPCB official. DCP (traffic) Sulochana Gajraj remained unavailable for comments.