Indore High Court orders strict measures to curb noise pollution

The Indore High Court has issued strict directives to combat rising noise pollution in the city. A division bench comprising Justice Subodh Abhyankar and Justice Jai Kumar Pillai ordered that all police stations be equipped with sound level meters to enable immediate measurement and enforcement of noise regulations.

The court specifically addressed the issue of municipal waste collection vehicles, ordering local bodies to ensure that loudspeakers used on these vehicles operate within prescribed decibel limits. This measure aims to protect the rights of citizens, particularly the elderly, children, and night-shift workers, from excessive morning noise.

Additionally, the High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the failure to properly publish lists of designated silence zones. Authorities have been instructed to formally publish these zones in widely circulated newspapers. To improve monitoring, the court suggested that Station House Officers (SHOs) appoint two volunteers from each ward to report noise violations. The court has requested a compliance report within three weeks, with the next hearing scheduled for November 23.