Strictly adhere to SC guidelines on noise pollution: NGT

The National Green Tribunal today directed authorities in Delhi to ensure strict adherence to guidelines on noise pollution, saying noise is more than just a nuisance as it can produce serious psychological stress.
The green panel also noted that burning of dried cow dung cakes was a serious problem as right to clean and decent environment would include protection against air and noise pollution.
"The administrative, executive and police authorities shall ensure that there are no recurrences of burning of 'upale' (dried cow dung cakes) or of generating noise pollution from using instruments, DJ sets, music systems, etc. above prescribed decibels.

"Furthermore, the fixed hours for playing such music etc. should be strictly adhered to not only by the SDM and SHO concerned in Palam, but even in the entire NCR," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
Supreme Court, in 2005, had banned playing of music on loudspeakers after 10 pm.
The tribunal warned that "if in future such pollution of air by burning of 'upale' or other material in open or by noise, is brought to the notice it would be compelled to take appropriate action in accordance with law against defaulting officers and the offending parties".

The tribunal's judgement came on a plea by Nidhi, a resident of Palam Colony, which said that two private persons, claiming to be priests, were running temples in the plots for exorcising of ghosts and were using loudspeakers and other musical instruments causing noise pollution.