BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court has directed the State Government to issue final notification on 'silent zones' identified in the state within two months after considering the objections to the draft notification on the issue.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by the Defence Colony Residents’ Association and others against the mushrooming of pubs in Indiranagar. The court has adjourned the matter while directing State Government to take necessary steps in providing noise pollution measuring equipment in all major cities.
Meanwhile, the State Government in a memo submitted that it has identified 100 mts radius from government office, hospital, educational institutions and courts as silent zones in the draft notification. The objections were invited and a final notification will be issued after reviewing them, the state said.
At least 123 places have been identified for installing equipment to measure noise pollution and Rs 9 crore has been earmarked for it, the state said. The government told the bench that the licenses of pubs causing noise pollution has been revoked.
The court asked the government why it did not take action under Section 19 of the Environmental Protection Act against such pubs. It directed the government to take action against not only the pubs but also all those who cause noise pollution.
‘Pass orders on registering FIRs’
The High Court has directed the state police chief to issue orders to all police stations in the state within a month over registration of FIRs on complaints made by the public irrespective of jurisdictions of police stations.
HC seeks report on illegal constructions
The High Court has directed the BBMP to submit a comprehensive report on how many cases are under investigation by the Appellate Authority, the Civil Court and the High Court over the construction of unauthorized buildings in the city.
