P RAMAKRISHNA SASTRY Vs. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Writ Petition was taken up as Public Interest Litigation" on the basis of a letter dated 16-9-2000 written by a practising Advocate in Vijayawada City addressed to the Hon'ble Chief Justice of this Court regarding the noise pollution created in the City of Vijayawada by reason of the use of Air Horns at their pitch by A.P. State Road Transport Corporation buses, lorries etc.

(2.) The fact that there exists noise pollution in the City of Vijayawada is not in dispute. An affidavit, affirmed by Sri B. Sreenivas, Sub-Inspector of Police on behalf of respondents 1,4 and 10 was filed contending that organised special camps were held to curb noise pollution with the assistance of A.P. Pollution Control Board and in the month of January, 2001, 1241 cases have been booked. All kinds of Gas Horns/pneumatic horns and multi-tone horns fitted to motor vehicles were banned by the Commissioner of Police on 8-1-2001. It was further stated that directions have also been issued to remove the gas horns fitted to all school buses and 3427 noise pollution cases have been booked within a period of six months against the drivers of vehicles who violated the traffic rules.

(3.) However, the A.P. Pollution Control Board in their status report dated 26-2-2001 admits of heavy noise pollution in Vijayawada city caused on account of using of air horns by A.P.S.R.T.C. Buses, private tourist buses, lorries. It was pointed out that at junction points, turning of roads, the drivers blow horns at highest pitch as a result whereof, the traffic rules are violated, which result in causing accidents and noise problems. It was stated that noise values observed in Vijayawada city at all the three places viz., Industrial, Commercial and residential areas have exceeded the normal values of noise levels fixed by the Central Pollution Control Board. The values of noise levels recorded at the above three places from 29-1-2001 to 10th February, 2001 are stated to be as under: <FRM>JUDGEMENT_326_ALT4_2001Html1.htm</FRM>