Categorize Areas As Per Noise Pollution Rules: Karnataka HC To Govt.

The Karnataka High Court has directed State government to by August 13 spell out time limit in which it would categorize areas, in Bengaluru city and State under the Noise Pollution rules.

As per the act areas can be segregated under Industrial, Commercial, Residential and Silence zones.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice H T Narendra Prasad said

"Noise pollution rules cannot be implemented unless the state government takes step in notifying silence zones as contemplated under the rules. For almost a period of 19 years the government has not undertaken the exercise and neither equipped the police with decibel meters, thus the implementation of noise pollution rules is not happening."

The direction was given during the hearing of a PIL filed by Defence Colony Resident Association, highlighting the problem of noise pollution in Indiranagar Area due to several pubs operating. The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on August 16. Permissible decibel limits in residential areas, during day time is 55 dB (A) and night time it is 45 dB (A). in Industrial area it is 75 dB (A) during day time and 70 dB (A) in night. Commercial Areas during day time permissible limit is 55 dB (A) and 45 dB (A). In silence zones day time permissible limit is 50 dB (A) and night time 40 dB (A).