Noise nuisance: KSPCB notice to Jayamahal Palace

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has issued a show cause notice to the Jayamahal Palace management, following a series of complaints from the nearby residents over the noise pollution created by the events held on the ground.

The Jayamahal Palace Hotel, a four-star heritage luxury hotel situated in the heart of the city near the cantonment railway station, is a hub for the marriages and events.

According to the documents accessed by DH, the noise level at the Jayamahal Palace has exceeded 70.5 decibels (dB) during the daytime.

According to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) norms, the noise level standards in the residential area is 55 dB in the day and 45 DB in the night.

Speaking to DH, a senior KSPCB official said: “After receiving the complaints from the residents staying around the palace, we had conducted an inspection of the hotel recently. We found that during events in daytime the decibel level is higher than the noise level standard stipulated for the residential area.”

Satya Achayya, who is residing in the Nandidurga extension for the past 10 years, said: “It is not just music from the palace premises. The noise is also from bursting of crackers at the events. Every night there is noise pollution from the hotel, and we have not slept for almost 10 years. Sometimes loud music starts early in the morning from 7 am.”

“There is a gas depot near my house. Bursting crackers can be dangerous as it could lead to an accident. The palace is a serious disturbance to all the residents here,” she added.

Another resident said: “Due to the series of events in the palace there are the traffic snarls in the area. The loud music and sound by bursting crackers start from the wee hours. Our complaints to the authorities concerned have gone in vain.”

The KSPCB official said they have issued the notice and requested the palace management to take measure to reduce the sound.

"We have also instructed them to arrange event inside the auditorium as the programmes are conducted outside that create noise in the neighbourhood,” the KSPCB official said.

'Not much of noise'

Responding to the allegations, V K Bhat, senior manager of Jayamahal palace said: “There is not so much of the noise from the hotel. The KSPCB has measured the sound, only sometimes during grand function when many musical instruments are used there will be a bit of sound.”

“We are trying to control loud music instruments on the premises. We have banned bursting of the crackers on the premises, but the crackers sound which residents are complaining about is from the palace ground,” he added.