BENGALURU: The High Court on Friday issued notice to the state government and Centre on public interest litigation seeking directions against noise pollution caused by vehicles, including a direction to issue certificates to vehicle owners for compliance with permissible noise levels.
Hearing a petition filed by H Mohan Krishna, a resident of Chikkasandra on Hesarghatta Main Road, a division bench of Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice R B Budihal issued notice to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Chief Secretary, Transport Department, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Commissioner of Police, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Central Pollution Control Board, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation.
The petitioner said the number of vehicles in Karnataka increased from 39.96 lakh in 2001 to 147.84 lakh in 2015. In the city, vehicles increased from 15.96 lakh to 55.59 lakh. There is no rule in the state making it mandatory for certification of noise levels, he said.
What petitioner wants
Ban on air horns
Ban on defective silencers
Noise level should be reduced to the prescribed standards as per Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
Certificate issued to vehicle owners for compliance with noise-level standards
Heavy fines not less than B5,000 for not obtaining certificate