Toothless PCB: It has no powers to penalise violators in J&K

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Dec 22: Despite increase in the level of pollution in Jammu and Kashmir, state‘s main regularity body, the Pollution Control Board (PCB) have no legal power to penalise those violating the Permissible Decibel (PD) limit.


While all big cities and metropolitan centres in the country have established specific norms and zones, where the drivers cannot blow pressure horns and regulate the use of generators by shopkeepers, besides observation of set PD limits during social, religious and community events, in our state there is a free for all situation.


The State PCB Board was constituted by state government in 1986, as per the provisions of water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act-1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act- 1981. Later in 1988, provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 were also entrusted to the Board for implementation, but it has failed to act decisively against the violation of the pollution norms.


 “Jammu and Kashmir is perhaps the only state which has no declared silent zones normally demarcated around hospitals and educational institutions”, said an environmentalist. He said irritating sounds of pressure horns and high pitch loudspeakers continue to distracts the students are bother the patients in the hospitals.


“The major causes of sound pollution is industrial and construction activities, generator sets, loudspeakers, music systems, blowing of horns and other mechanical devices which have adverse affects on the health of people”, said Dr. Mehboob Ali.


With increasing traffic rush in twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu with the number of vehicles in these each urban centres crossing the eight lakh mark, the noise pollution has become a major menace for the public. The situation has become uncontrollable as the state does not have a strong law to deal with violators.


“PCB has no power to penalize anyone responsible for the noise pollution. At the most it can carry advertisement campaign and organise programmes in educational institutions that is their last means against the menace”, said a PCB official on condition of anonymity. Sources said the board has squarely failed to keep space with the changing environment not and deal with the new challenges.


Officials said that another reason for the increase in the sound pollution is the cutting down of green patches around the major roads and highway. It is also casting an adverse affect on the people.