Noise-mapping of 27 major cities soon

Indiatimes|The Times of India|The Economic Times

Noise-mapping of 27 major cities soonTNN | Jun 30, 2017, 05.14 AM IST

MUMBAI: Motorists, be warned! Soon, honking in silence zones may cost you dear. The state government on Thursday informed the Bombay high court that needless honking and honking in silence zones will soon become punishable offences under the Maharashtra Transport and Road Safety Bill 2017, which is awaiting the President's assent.

As part of its efforts to keep sound levels under check, the state government has started noise-mapping of 27 cities. In the first phase, noise-mapping has started in 10 cities, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Mira Bhayander, Vasai-Virar, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur and Panvel. This will help the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) monitor sound levels in different areas and create a database. In an affidavit to the HC, the government said MPCB has installed decibel meters at 10 locations in Mumbai and its suburbs, including Wadala, Bandra, Powai , Andheri, Kandivli, Fort and Chembur, for real-time continuous noise mapping. At five of these places, real-time data is being displayed on boards.

These details were given by advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka, which is hearing a clutch of PILs filed by the NGO Awaaz Foundation and activists including Dr Yeshwant Oke and Dr Mahesh Bedekar on noise pollution.

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