SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: Vehicles with multi-toned horns and buses – government as well as private – with pressure horns are set to face the rap for violating noise pollution standards. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has directed the State pollution authority to dismantle all such vehicular horns in the next 30 days.
The Ministry has also banned/prohibited the manufacture and usage of pressure horns and multi-toned horns. As per the latest amendment to the Environment (Protection) Rules 1986, state pollution control boards are the authorities to ensure maintenance of the specified ambient noise standards, thereby banning and restricting any activity emitting noise.
MoEF in directions issued to Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) via Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on April 16, has asked it to “dismantle” already available pressure horns and multi-toned horns in vehicles and replace them with standard horns.
Speaking to Herald, GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha confirmed this directive and said that ‘the action taken report on the same has to be submitted within the next 30 days’. “In the next one month, we have to identify and dismantle all such non-standard horns,” he said.
Such horns will now be replaced with the standard horns as prescribed under the Central Motor Vehicle Act as per the Environment (Protection) Rules 1986. In case of buses, the Ministry has suggested usage of manual air horns, on the lines with the one used by BEST in Mumbai.
Goa has around 10.83 lakh vehicles, with approximately 40 per cent having multi-toned horns. On the other hand, around 1,500 buses run on the State roads with pressure horns, leading to noise and emission resulting in pollution.
The Board has also been asked to issue directions to the State Transport Department to ban and prohibit manufacture and usage of pressure horns and multi-toned horns, failing which necessary action will be initiated against the automobile manufactures under the Air Act and Environment (Protection) Rules.
“GSPCB to issue directions under the Air Act to the RTOs to implement and comply with the vehicle emission and noise standards as notified by the Ministry, at the time of issue of conformity of production (CoP) certificates to vehicles in manufacturing stage,” the directions reads.
Automobile manufacturing companies have also been asked to get the test done for stationary vehicles within 30 days, the report of which is to be submitted to the pollution authority.
