Question : NOISE POLLUTION IN DELHI

(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item captioned `Muffle noise before it kills, High Court tells city Govt.`, appearing in the `Times of India` on August 6, 2001;

(b) if so, the details of the factors responsible for growing menace of noise pollution;

(c) the details of the policy of the Government to tackle the noise pollution;

(d) whether the Government have issued necessary directions in this regard to implement anti-pollution rules in letter and spirit;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the details of industries creating noise pollution in Delhi and action taken by the SDM concerned to check noise pollution?

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS ( T.R. BAALU)

(a)&(b) Yes, Sir. Higher levels of noise are mainly due to increase in population, industrial-commercial activities, vehicular traffic, use of loudspeakers and bursting of crackers.

(c),(d)&(e) The Government have taken various policy measures to tackle noise pollution and concerned authorities have been directed to implement the Rules. The steps taken to regulate and control noise pollution include the following :

(1) Ambient Air Quality Standards in respect of noise have been notified in 1989 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for the industrial, commercial, residential areas and silence zones.

(2) Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 have been notified in February, 2000.

(3) Noise standards for stationary diesel sets (15-500 KVA) have been notified in January, 1999.

(4) Noise standards for fire crackers had been notified in October, 1999.

(5) Noise limits for portable generator sets run with petrol and kerosene have been notified in September, 2000.

(6) Noise limits for vehicles have been revised and notified in September, 2000 effective from 1st January, 2003.

(7) Noise level standards for coal mines have been evolved and notified in September, 2000.

(8) Guidelines approved by Delhi Government have been published in local newspapers especially for control of noise pollution from generator sets.

(9) Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) instituted a study entitled `Sonic spectrum of Delhi` and under this study, 46 residential colonies were monitored for noise levels.



(f) Delhi Pollution Control Committee has been taking action under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 against the industrial units/ establishments generating noise beyond the specified norms. The action taken also include closing down/shifting of polluting units. Some of the noise polluting units have been closed by Sub-Divisional Magistrates in Delhi.