Aiming to effectively control and curb noise pollution in the national Capital, the Delhi Government has proposed to empower officials of civic bodies to take action against violators.

The Delhi Government’s Environment Department has also submitted a proposal to the Union Environment Ministry to designate Station House Officers (SHOs) as an authority to prosecute violators under noise pollution rules. 

Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, Deputy Commissioners, Sub divisional Magistrates, Assistant Commissioners of Police (Traffic), sub-divisional police officers -- including of railways and airports -- and Member Secretary and Chairman of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee have been designated as an authority to take action against violators. In Delhi, the local and civic bodies – Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment Board -- are not empowered to initiate legal action under Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules.

The only option available to them is to report the violation to the designated authorities. A committee set up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to monitor compliance of the noise rules said that noise pollution cannot be effectively controlled and curbed in Delhi without the active participation of local bodies.

It asked Law Department of the city Government to initiate a proposal to empower the officials of local and civic bodies under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules.  The proposal is pending with xLieutenant-Governor. The committee also noticed that the Delhi Police procured 244 sound level meters and distributed them among ACPs/sub-divisions and SHOs. However, "very few actions" have been reported utilising the sound level meters. The reason for inaction is that SHOs are not designated as an authority to prosecute violators under the noise pollution rules, according to the panel headed by Justice (retired) SP Garg.

 The panel then asked the Environment Department to prepare a proposal for delegation of authorities to all SHOs in Delhi. The proposal is pending with Union Environment Ministry, a senior official of the department said.

 The Justice Garg committee has also asked local bodies and SHOs to hold regular meetings with office-bearers of religious institutions for self-regulation of noise instruments.

The panel has directed  Delhi Government to issue a notification making the installation of sound limiters in sound systems mandatory. Besides, the DPCC has been asked to prepare guidelines to prevent noise pollution at construction and demolition sites.