Concerned citizens launch Uttarakhand Against Noise Pollution to check rising din in State
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Concerned citizens launched Uttarakhand Against Noise Pollution (UANP), a citizens’ collective aimed at addressing the growing challenge of noise pollution across the State and demanding stricter enforcement of existing laws against violations by hotels, resorts, restaurants, pubs, wedding venues and event organisers. Addressing media persons, activist Anoop Nautiyal said that UANP was being formed with three key objectives- to raise public awareness and a statewide citizen movement against noise pollution through local chapters across Uttarakhand; to encourage hotels, resorts, wedding venues, builders, religious event organisers and other establishments to voluntarily curb noise pollution; and to urge the police, urban local bodies, Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and other authorities to adopt a far more proactive approach towards enforcing the Noise Pollution Rules.
Mussoorie Diversion resident major general (retd) Atul Rawat described spending nearly Rs two lakh to soundproof his windows after enduring relentless noise from nearby restaurants and pubs, as well as night-time construction noise from an upcoming residential project. This situation has also adversely affected his elderly parents’ health.
Lieutenant colonel (retd) Karuna Thapliyal who built her home in an MDDA approved colony at Kuthal Gate after retirement, said that she was ultimately forced to sell it due to constant sound pollution disturbances from homestays in the neighborhood. She alleged that after raising complaints she faced harassment, including weekend tourists standing outside her gate, playing loud vulgar music and repeatedly ringing her doorbell.
Retired Survey of India official Dharam Singh Rawat (84) said that his family has been living in the Malsi village for about 200 years. “This was one of the most peaceful places in Doon but now about five hotels in the area including the Taj and Marriott play loud music late into the night followed by fireworks past midnight which has made life difficult for us,” he said.
Other Malsi residents including Vinesh Rawat, Sultan Singh, Nitin Ahlawat and Pankaj Rawat pointed out that the hotels and authorities had remained apathetic to the noise pollution which has made life difficult for residents across age groups. Complaints to the police and district magistrate’s office had not yielded any concrete results, they said. The excessive noise has also caused a visible decline in bird populations in the adjoining Malsi reserved forest. Vivek Ahlawat recounted the group’s engagement with the Taj property, stating that despite assurances to install sound barriers within three months, the commitment had not been honoured and loud music continued. He also spoke about an elderly heart patient in the village who continues to suffer because of the disturbance, with nowhere else to relocate at this stage of life. Keerti Ahlawat described her long and unresolved journey through the complaint process, involving the hotel management, the 1095 portal, the district magistrate’s office, the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun with limited results. Former director general of police Aloke B Lal said that noise of the traffic outside his home on Rajpur Road had made conversations among family members harder. He said that noise pollution is exerting adverse social and health impacts. The occasion was also marked by the launch of the UANP Kumaon chapter in the Corbett landscape bringing together residents addressing similar challenges arising from resorts, hotels and other commercial establishments in the region.
