The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently dismissed a plea against the use of horns by trains resulting in violation of Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules.
A bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel, Sudhir Agarwal, and Arun Kumar Tyagi, as well as expert members Dr. A Senthil Veil and Dr. Afroz Ahmed, stated that the generation of noise by the railway operations that serve a large number of people can’t be wished away.
Thus, the tribunal stated that while a noise-free environment is necessary, essential activities have to be conducted in the absence of alternative options.
The tribunal held that “It is a matter of common knowledge that Railway operations serve a large number of population and generation of noise in their operations that can’t be wished away. Horns are required to be blown as per the applicable ‘whistle code.’ Thus, while noise free environment is necessary, essential activities have to be conducted in absence of any other options.”
Therefore, the NGT heard a plea by residents of various localities of Ajmer, Rajasthan who claimed that they were suffering due to noise pollution generated by the operation of railways.
