NGT asks MPCB to publish data on noise pollution levels daily

PUNE: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to publish data on noise levels on a daily basis from different parts of the city of Pune. The order was passed by a bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh, judicial member, and Satyawan Singh Gabryal, expert member, which heard the matter through video conferencing. 

The decision was made as a part of an order issued in an application made by a resident of Karishma Society in Kothrud. The application was regarding the noise pollution caused by a construction site near the applicant’s society. Pratap Jagtap, sub-regional officer, Pune-1, MPCB, said that the pollution body monitors noise pollution levels during the Ganpati festival. The statistics obtained from the 10 day observation are uploaded on MPCB’s website as part of a special drive. MPCB usually carries out these special drives during festivals like Ganpati, Diwali etc. 

The onus of noise pollution data collection and analysis is on the state PCB as per Rule 4 of Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. “The respective state pollution control boards or pollution control committees, in consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shall collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data relating to noise pollution and measures devised for its effective prevention, control and abatement,” read rule 4 of Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

The NGT order states, “The data so collected must be published daily at a certain time to be fixed by the State PCB and should be put up on the public domain.”

After the application was filed, NGT asked for a committee to monitor the noise levels near the construction site. A committee visited the spot in June and submitted a report to NGT. The report found that the construction equipment being used at the site was causing noise pollution. NGT has taken cognizance that for the citizens of Pune city, the state of Maharashtra and the country, this is an issue. Saurabh Kulkarni, the advocate who was representing the resident in the case, said that the NGT has therefore asked for effective implementation of noise pollution rules and publish data related to noise levels on the public domain daily.

“What mechanism is to be used is the decretion of MPCB. If you see the Maharashtra government notification of the Noise Pollution Rules, you will see that the responsibility of reducing noise pollution is that of PMC,” he said. Moreover, the committee readings find that the noise levels were high in the area even when the construction was shut. 

A 2009 government resolution also points out that the noise pollution complains regarding construction site should be handled by municipal corporations.