Govt to take corrective measures to curb noise pollution

by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, JULY 24

Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Health and Family Welfare Punjab has asked the district administration, municipal corporations and other officers concerned to ensure proper implementation of the Noise pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 formulated by the government together with the directive of the courts  in order to check the noise pollution.

          In a press release issued here today, she said that the noise pollution has got to be curbed at the earliest to prevent loss of hearing capacity. Quoting statistics, she said that in India 63 million people (6.3%) suffer from significant auditory loss. It is the second most common cause of disability, said Dr. Sidhu. WHO noted that half of the deafness were preventable and 30% are treatable or could be managed by assistive devices, she said. She also said that the government would ensure that as per the law enacted an area comprising not less than 100 meters around hospitals, educational institutions and courts was declared as a silence zone.

          She further said that corrective measures like reducing the heavy traffic, fixing of speed limit, minimizing the traffic jams frequently occurring in the crowded areas, putting a green belt along the roads should be taken so as to curb the menace of noise pollution to a certain extend in the larger public interest.

          Dr. Sidhu emphasized the need of generating a mass awareness campaign to educate the citizens in general and the youth in particular about the ill effects of noise pollution and traffic rules and regulations. She laid stress on organizing regular training, conduct lectures, workshops and exhibitions in all the educational institutions, offices of the government and non government organization. Municipal Corporation should also formulate its own rules and regulation under its jurisdiction to control noise nuisance. Dr. Sidhu also said that with the effective implementation of the         Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 in the state, about 80% hearing problems caused by noise pollution could be corrected.