Indian Express 16.12.2009
Civic body pitches in to create ‘silence zones’ in city
PMC to implement state govt directive issued in April
Following a state government directive issued in April, the civic administration will start earmarking ‘silence zones’ across the city starting next month where the permissible sound level would not exceed 50 dB between 6 am and 10 pm and 40 dB between 10 pm and 6 am. Around 700 such zones will be set up in 2010, while the subsequent two years will see the initiative across the entire city.
In such zones, there will be restrictions on using loudspeakers, holding public rallies and loud marriage parties.
Faced with a paucity of funds, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to execute the project in three phases. “We are committed to executing the state government directive, but need sufficient funds for its implementation,” said Bhanudas Mane, Deputy Municipal Commissioner.
The civic body has identified 2,047 silence zones in the city including schools, hospitals, courts and government offices,” he further added. “As many as 10,000 notice boards declaring the respective areas as silence zones would be put up,” he said. “The boards would highlight the restrictions as well as the punitive action that will be initiated by the city police against those who violate the stipulations laid down,” he said.
Civic environment officer Vikram Jadhavar said notice boards would be designed to catch attention of passers-by. “Over Rs 3 crore is the estimated expenditure for the project. The work will be completed in three years with a provision of Rs 1 crore each year,” Mane said.
