Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 26: The urban development department, which is preparing to issue a notification to declare an area up to a radius of 100 metres around schools, colleges, religious centres, hospitals, government offices and courts as silent zone, has planned to ban shrill horns, bursting of crackers and other noise pollutions there. Violators can face fine of one thousand rupees along with jail term up to three months.

The department has issued draft notification. Official notification is expected to be issued after two weeks.

Although the 'silent zone' boards were displayed around these institutions and offices in the past, there was no provision for punishing the guilty. However, the government is yet to set up a system of registering complaints. Henceforth, use of microphones by temples and mosques would be restricted.

In the silent zones, noise limit during the day has been pegged at 50 decibels while at night the same would be 40 decibels.

When the case pertaining to noise pollution created by pubs and bars at Indiranagar here came up for consideration, the high court had noted that the government had not officially announced the silent zones. To fall in line, the government prepared a draft notification. It has been since replaced by a modified notification for which people can file objections. It will be officially issued after the period for objection lapses.