HC orders notices on increasing noise level

The High Court on Friday ordered issuance of notices to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the City Police Commissioner in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed based on the report in an English daily on increasing noise pollution levels in the City.

Hearing the PIL, Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna ordered notices to the government.  The report stated that the noise levels had exceeded the permissible limit by 71 per cent at the 12 out of 15 noise monitoring stations in the City.

It said that the noise level in industrial areas was within the permissible limit, whereas the sensitive, residential and commercial zones which included hospitals and schools exceeded the permissible limit of noise pollution.

The report also said that despite having provision to book motorists under the Motor Vehicles Act for honking loudly in 'sensitive zones', no action was taken by the department concerned. The bench adjourned hearing to October 7.