Latest news with #NoiseRules
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Removed 343 loudspeakers from religious structures across Maharashtra: State to HC
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday disposed of a petition filed by a Navi Mumbai-based social activist, seeking a contempt action against the state government for its non-compliance with a 2016 order about the installation of illegal loudspeakers on religious shrines across the state. The government has already taken substantial steps to curb noise pollution, said the bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne, adding that there was no requirement to initiate a contempt action against the concerned government officials by the petition filed by Santosh Pachlag. An RTI response stated that there were 2,940 speakers on religious structures in the state. The court orders came after it noticed an affidavit by the Director General of Police (DGP), Rashmi Shukla, stating that 2,812 loudspeakers were functioning across the state by various religious structures as of April 2025. Out of these, the authorities have removed 343 loudspeakers. They provided licenses and permissions for 831 loudspeakers. The police sent warning notices to 767 structures, which then did not exceed the permissible noise decibel limits. Apart from these, the police have registered 19 First Information Reports in cases of violations. In January 2025, Pachlag's advocate, Deendayal Dhanure, told the court that based on an RTI response Pachlag received in 2019, the government was aware of at least 2,940 illegal loudspeakers. He added that in an August 2016 judgement, the court had issued 37 directions dealing with noise pollution. The judgement also observed that there were provisions to send violators of the Noise Pollution Rules to jail for five years (seven in case of continuous contravention) or fine them up to ₹1 lakh. However, the court noted there was a lack of enforcement of the said provisions. In the same judgement, it recalled the committee, headed by Justice Sujata Manohar, that detailed various health hazards caused by the use of loudspeakers. In January, the Supreme Court also observed that noise can disturb sleep and communication, damage hearing, and evoke gynaecological and pathological reactions, he said. It noted that the police commissioner, deputy police commissioner, and assistant police commissioners were the authority under the Noise Rules. If loudspeakers exceed the ambient noise standard by 10 decibels, any person can file a complaint with the authorities. The authorities are bound to take appropriate actions against the violator. The government pleader, Neha Bhide, informed the court that a state-appointed nodal officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police supervises actions taken against the illegal loudspeakers. Finding the actions to be 'satisfactory,' the division bench observed that the government has complied with the directives issued in 2016, with no case of wilful disobedience. 'It is evident that the authorities have substantially complied with the order. Hence, no contempt is made out and the contempt petition is disposed of,' the court said.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Haryana human rights panel seeks report on polluting factory
Haryana Human Rights commission(HHRC) has sought report from Rewari deputy commissioner, municipal commissioner, municipal council and regional officer of the Haryana state pollution board, Rewari, on a complaint filed by residents of Bheem Basti seeking intervention against the continued operation of a private industrial unit, which is functioning illegally within a densely populated residential area. The right panel has sought a report before August 19. The complainants alleged that the factory named Sai Ram pipe Udyog, is operating in violation of environmental laws, emitting hazardous noise and air pollution, causing severe vibrations from heavy machinery and operating during night hours, thereby endangering the health and safety of residents and violating their fundamental and human rights. Right panel chairperson Lalit Batra observed that the conduct of the factory and the inaction of statutory bodies such as the Haryana State Pollution Control Board amount to a blatant violation of multiple provisions of environmental and municipal laws, including but not limited to Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Factories Act, 1948, and Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. 'These Noise Rules set maximum noise limits of 55 dB during the day and 45 dB at night for residential zones. The district authorities displayed apathy towards the residents' repeated pleas,' Batra said in the order.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
FIR against Punjab MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli over highway blockade on Bio-CNG plant
JALANDHAR: Jalandhar Rural police registered FIR against Adampur Congress MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli and others, including 21 identified and 100-150 unidentified, for blocking Jalandhar Pathankot national highway on April 23 to protest against bio-CNG plant at Bhogpur sugar mill to process the solid waste from Jalandhar Municipal Corporation. Apart from six provisionos of BNS and a provision of Noise Poluution Rules, the FIR against the MLA and others also has section 8B of the National HIghway Act, whih provides imprisomment upto five years. The FIR was registered in the night of April 23 but it remained under wraps and the MLA also learnt about it on Tuesday morning only. The issue of bio-CNG plant at Bhogpur sugar mill has been brewing for around a year. In the blockade on April 23, Bhogpur town residents, shopkeepers, and farm groups had partiipated. In August last year also, the town residents blocked the NH. Though meetings between the officials and the town representatives were held in the past, the issue remained unresolved. KEY HIGHLIGHTS FIR filed against MLA Kotli and 100+ others for April 23 highway blockade near Jalandhar. Protest was over planned bio-CNG plant at Bhogpur sugar mill using Jalandhar city waste. FIR includes BNS sections, Noise Rules, and Highway Act with jail term up to five years. MLA Kotli learned of FIR only on Tuesday though it was filed on night of April 23. Locals have opposed plant for a year; past talks with officials failed to resolve issue.
