PANAJI: The state government has finalised an action plan for noise mapping and monitoring. It has planned remedial measures to curb the noise menace in industrial, commercial, residential areas and silent zones.
The government has also made provision for levying penalties on violators.
The mapping will be initiated at Verna Industrial Estate for industrial area, Panaji and Margao for commercial and residential areas and Goa Medical College and Cujira school complex, Bambolim, for silence zones.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued directions for the preparation of an action plan for noise mapping.
“The state government has approved an action plan for noise-level mapping after due consultation with the stakeholder department,” director of environment and climate change Dasharath Redkar said.
As per the action plan, a loudspeaker or public address system or any sound producing instruments or musical instruments or sound amplifier shall not be used in open areas without prior permission of the authorities.
“Only those diesel generator sets which comply with the provision of the Environment (Protection) Rules, as notified by the Union environment ministry from time to time in respect of acoustic enclosure, noise level, certification, insertion loss and exhaust muffler shall be sold, purchased, supplied/used by any manufacture/dealer/shopkeeper.
The diesel generator set operation shall be monitored by the authority prescribed under these rules,” the action plan states.
As per the plan, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will carry out noise-level mapping along with police officials on a regular basis.
“The noise-level mapping shall be extended to other areas if required on the recommendations of the district magistrate,” the action plan states.
The board will carry out noise-level mapping with the assistance of Union environment ministry approved laboratories whenever required and the expenditure incurred for the same will be reimbursed by the environment department.
The board will organise capacity building and necessary technical guidance for the officials from the revenue department and police. The board will also monitor noise level whenever required on the instructions of the revenue authorities.
The action plan states that the transport department should monitor the horns or other sound producing devices on vehicles to ensure that they comply with rules as per M V Act.
“No vehicle with sound boxes or modified exhaust should be permitted to ply. Requirement for complying with these should be indicated in the licences and looked into while issuing and renewing licences.
While appropriate legal action may be taken for the first offence committed by the driver/vehicle, in case of repeated offence, route permit, wherever applicable, of such vehicle/driver shall be cancelled and sound creating device seized,” the action plan states.
The education or higher education department will carry out awareness amongst students about the provision of these rules with assistance from the board.
The town and country planning department, planning and development authorities, public works department and other government departments and corporations should give due consideration to noise pollution as a parameter of quality of life and objective to ensure that the standards of noise level meet the prescribed standards while granting permission for developmental activities, the action plan states.