Proving the skeptics right
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 21, 2014 -

Like most programmes and policies initiated by the State administration which failed to take off the ground due to lack of sincere attempt on the part of the officials concerned to implement them strictly, non-enforcement of ‘silent zones’ prohibitions even after more than a year of declaring some areas under Imphal Municipality and Greater Imphal as silent zones must not have come as a surprise to anyone.

With noise pollution in the unplanned and haphazardly growing Imphal city and its surrounding area reaching perilous level, the Government of Manipur, after long years of contemplation over promulgation of own Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules to reduce noise pollution, finally did come with a notification on January 29, 2013 declaring a number of important places in Greater Imphal area as 'Silent Zones'.

According to the notification issued by VK Thakur, Principal Secretary of Department of Forest and Environment, Government of Manipur, 'silent zones' include areas in and around 100 metres of public and semi-public places such as government offices, educational institutions, camps of Assam Rifles and Manipur Rifles, parks, zoological and botanical gardens, universities and hospitals.

The noise level in these 'silent zone areas' is not supposed to exceed beyond 75 decibel during the day (6 am-10 pm) and 70 decibel during night time (10 pm- 6am) and use of gas horns is strictly prohibited.

The notification also made it clear that no loudspeaker or public address system can be used in any of the notified silent zone areas without the permission of the authority concerned, and any offenders who violate the rules shall be liable to be punished under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

At the time of declaring Imphal and its surrounding areas as 'Silent zones', there were mixed response from the public, some hailing the move as a positive step towards solving the problem of escalating noise pollution in the city, while others being skeptical over its successful implementation like most other ambitious projects and schemes initiated by the Government in the State, not for any benefit to the people but for the contractors to go singing all the way to the banks.

Now, after more than a year of declaring whole of Greater Imphal area as 'silent zone', it has become obvious that the prohibition imposed against generating loud noises under Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2011 and the penalties spelled out for offences for violating the rules under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 have remained only on paper with no sign of any sincere attempt on the part of the authorities concerned to implement 'silent zones' strictly in any part of Imphal city, forget about its peripheries.

Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2011, the concerned District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police have been made the authorities to ensure implementation of these rules while Member Secretary of Manipur Pollution Control Board as the authority for monitoring the ambient noise in the State.

So, more than the 'honking' public who are ignorant of the symbol of 'No horn' signs or any offenders under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2011, it is these authorities who should be pulled up and punished for neglecting the assigned duties.

Only then declaring 'silent zones' in any part of the State would have true meaning. By the way, its funny, how skeptics and critics of Government policies and programmes are always proved right in Manipur.