Jalandhar, 22 September(Wishav Warta): Punjab Pollution Control Board(PPCB) and traffic police are running a statewide drive to prevent noise pollution in the state and from October 1 complete ban will be imposed on the use of pressure horns and silences emitting crackers. The PPCB, through a special drive initiated in July, has been challaning buses for using pressure horns. The PPCB has given strict guidelines to prevent the noise pollution and teamed up with police to implement it. PPCB will initiate ban on pressure horns and modified silences making loud noise. Pollution board has directed if anyone found manufacturing, selling, purchasing and fitting pressure horns will face imprisonment up to six years or a fine of Rs 5000 per day in line with the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Previously, the board, in collaboration with the traffic police, issued a fine of Rs 1,000 for the offence, along with impounding the devices. Pressure horns are being removed from the vehicles and challans are issued to the buses. The bikes equipped with modified silencer to make loud noise and emitting cracker sound from silencer will also be finned. PPCB has given advertisement in many state newspapers to make people aware of this and they have urged people to give complaint on a phone number given in the advertisement if they see anyone violating the rules.
ACP traffic,Jalandhar, Harbinder Singh Bhalla said a meeting was held with Punjab Pollution control Board officials and traffic police to prevent noise pollution in the city. PPCB has directed to ban pressure horns and modified silencers. He said Jalandhar traffic police and PPCB is running a joint operation to stop the use of pressure horns under which many vehicles have been finned and impounded, pressure horns are also removed from the vehicles. Traffic police are taking strict action against the users he added. PPCB chairman Kahan Singh Pannu said a statewide ban will be issued starting October 1 keeping in view the noise pollution caused by pressure horns, and cracker-sound emitting devices installed in motorcycles, especially Royal Enfield Bullet.
