The National Green Tribunal has expressed its displeasure over government's failure to fix environmental norms on noise pollution in residential areas near airports across the country.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to convene a meeting and take a clear decision on the issue.
"The Supreme Court of India has referred these matters to the Tribunal and directed expeditious disposal, preferably within 6 months... We direct MoEF, DGCA and CPCB to hold a meeting within two weeks from today and take a final view on the matter. We make it clear that we would not grant any other opportunity to them," the bench said while posting the matter for final hearing on March 16.
The green panel was hearing a bunch of pleas filed by the residents of Vasant Kunj, Bijwasan and Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), a super speciality hospital located near the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
The pleas alleged that noise created by aircraft at the IGI airport is affecting health of the residents of nearby areas and sought quashing of government clearance to Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) for construction of a runway at the international airport.
The hospital (ISIC) had said noise created by planes are usually between the range of 75 decibels and 94 decibels, and is "clearly beyond the stipulated standards laid down under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000".
The Supreme Court had last November referred the matter to NGT, saying the parties would not claim any interim order before the tribunal.
