Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has said the City Police Commissioner is “responsible for implementing noise pollution control measures” and that its role is “limited to extending assistance to the police in monitoring noise levels” on receipt of complaints.
In its statement filed before the Karnataka High Court on August 26, KSPCB stated that the State government in 2002 had identified the Police Department as the competent “authority” for implementing noise pollution regulations under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
The court recently questioned as to why the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) should not be asked to take over the functions of KSPCB as Bangaloreans are “suffering from pollution” due to “its failure in discharging its duties effectively from past 30 years.”
KSPCB pointed out that the government on August 13, 2002, had issued a detailed direction to the Director-General of Police, the Commissioners of Police, and other officials of the Home Department not below the rank of Deputy Superintendents of Police to take action against violators of the standard noise levels and prosecute them under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
In the same order, the government had asked KSPCB “to assist the Police Department in monitoring noise levels”.
KSPCB Member-Secretary Vijaykumar said that they had informed the court that it is the Police Department which is the “authority” to enforce measures to prevent noise pollution during the hearing of the litigation in October 2013.
