NEW DELHI: The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has rolled out standard operating procedures to tighten the enforcement of noise pollution norms across the national capital. The move is aimed at ensuring time-bound action on complaints, proper monitoring and imposition of environmental compensation on violators.
The SOPs, which have come into effect, seek to address persistent enforcement gaps by clearly laying down authorities’ responsibilities and a structured response mechanism, ranging from complaint registration to penalties.
Under the new framework, the DPCC cell must record and act upon all noise pollution complaints across the DPCC jurisdiction, including those against restaurants, bars, pubs and other establishments. Going forward, noise monitoring must be conducted within three days, if required. The move has brought in a timeline-driven enforcement chain.
“The air laboratory of the DPCC shall conduct noise monitoring during the time frame as mentioned in the complaint. It shall also monitor the background noise level of the close surrounding area for comparison with actual noise-generating source,” the directive for SOPs states.
It added that monitoring must follow the prescribed standards as per Schedule III of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, which were notified to control and prevent noise pollution under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
These rules aim to protect public health and the environment by regulating noise levels from all sources. The rules establish noise standards for different areas during the day and night, prohibiting the use of loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am.
Meanwhile, dust pollution complaints linked to Delhi Metro construction sites and station premises have witnessed a decline in the first four months of 2026, dropping from 640 during the corresponding period last year to just 24.
23 more air quality monitoring stations in NCR
The Haryana government will set up 23 additional air quality monitoring stations in the NCR, increasing the total from 29 to 52 by July this year. The state will also introduce an aggregator policy to regulate transport services and eliminate legacy solid waste within the next 11 months, an official statement said on Friday. Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi chaired a review meeting on air quality management in the NCR in this regard on Friday.