The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government to curb noise pollution resulting from religious festivities, road traffic and construction activities in major cities. The bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka asked the government to inform within three months what steps it proposes to curb noise pollution in the state.
The high court directed the state government to undertake ‘noise mapping’ in all the major cities and ensure that the data collected from this exercise is used in preparing development plans in different areas of the state.
The bench also asked the municipal commissioners of civic bodies and Police Commissioners of major cities to formulate a grievance redressal mechanism for noise pollution rules, if not already done. The court also asked the state to give adequate publicity to the grievance redressal mechanism before the onset of religious festivals such as Ganeshotsav, Dahi Handi and Diwali.