Campaign against noise pollution launched

PrashantNews

Dehradun: Raising concern over the growing menace of noise pollution, a group of retired civil and military officers, environmentalists and residents on Saturday launched a statewide campaign, “Uttarakhand Against Noise Pollution (UANP),” demanding stricter enforcement of existing laws against hotels, resorts, restaurants, pubs, wedding venues and event organisers that violate permissible sound limits.

Launching the initiative, environmentalist Anoop Nautiyal said the campaign aims to build public awareness, transform the issue into a statewide citizens’ movement and encourage hotels, resorts, builders, religious event organisers and other establishments to voluntarily comply with noise pollution norms. He also urged the police, urban local bodies, the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and other authorities to adopt a far more proactive approach in enforcing the Noise Pollution Rules.

Several residents narrated personal experiences of the adverse effects of excessive noise.

Major General Atul Rawat (Retd.), a resident of Whispering Willows on Mussoorie Diversion, said he had spent nearly Rs 2 lakh to soundproof his home after enduring years of loud music from nearby restaurants and pubs, along with late-night construction noise from a residential project. He said the constant disturbance had also adversely affected the health of his elderly parents.

Lt Col Karuna Thapliyal (Retd.) said she was ultimately forced to sell her home at Kuthaal Gate because of persistent noise pollution. She alleged that after lodging complaints, she faced harassment, including weekend tourists gathering outside her residence, playing loud music and repeatedly ringing her doorbell.

Eighty-four-year-old Dharam Singh Rawat, a retired Survey of India official and a resident of Malsi village, said the locality—where his family has lived for over two centuries—had become increasingly unliveable due to loud music from nearby luxury hotels. Similar concerns were echoed by residents Vinesh Rawat, Sultan Singh and Pankaj Rawat, who said continuous high-decibel music and fireworks had disrupted the lives of families, senior citizens and young children.

Highlighting the environmental impact, Nitin Ahlawat said excessive noise was contributing to a visible decline in bird populations in the adjoining Malsi forest, located barely 200 metres from several hotels.

Vivek Ahlawat alleged that despite assurances from a hotel management to install sound barriers, the promised measures had not been implemented, while Keerti Ahlawat detailed her prolonged struggle with authorities, saying repeated complaints to multiple government agencies had yielded little relief. She also pointed out that permissible ambient noise levels in residential areas are 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night, measured at the property boundary.

The event also marked the launch of the UANP Kumaon Chapter in Corbett under the leadership of Sumantha Ghosh, bringing together residents facing similar issues from commercial establishments in the region.

Concluding the programme, Anoop Nautiyal, Aloke Lal and Jagmohan Mendiratta appealed to citizens across Uttarakhand to join the movement and establish local UANP chapters in their towns and cities. They said the campaign would continue engaging with communities, businesses and government agencies to strengthen enforcement, improve accountability and work towards quieter, healthier and more liveable neighbourhoods across the state