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| Measuring sound output:S. Dhanapal (left), Senior Scientist, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, measuring the sound pollution caused by air-horns with the help of a `’Sound Meter’ at the New Bus Stand along with the motor vehicle inspectors attached to the Office of the Regional Transport Office, Krishnagiri on Friday. |
Officials of the Regional Transport Offices in
Krishnagiri and Hosur have intensified the checking of air horns in
private and government-owned TNSTC buses that are causing sound
pollution in the district, said P. Suresh, Regional Transport Officer.
He
told The Hindu that the Motor Vehicle Inspectors attached to the
respective RTO offices had been directed to check sound pollution which
affects the public in the bus stand and other places where large numbers
of vehicles are plying.
The surprise crackdown on
violating vehicles is conducted at regular intervals at important
points, following the directions of the Transport Commissioner along
with the officials of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPSC).
The
air horns fitted in heavy and light vehicles should not produce sound
above 91 decibels, said S. Dhanapal, Senior Scientist, TNPSC. The sound
level of the air horns is measured by the authorities with the help of
the hand-held ‘Sound Level Meter’.
Notices were
issued to the violating vehicles and the list of violating vehicles
would be sent to the District Collector for fixing the fine.
In case of other State vehicles, a spot fine of Rs. 1,000 would be collected from the driver of the vehicle.
If
the violating vehicle belonged to other districts, the check reports
would be sent to the Collectors concerned through the RTOs for fixing
the fine, the officials said.
The cone-type air horns
would be removed by the authorities besides damaging the horn lever
near the steering of the buses. This would be done to prevent repetition
of violation by the same vehicle.
RTO authorities
said that as many as 346 buses and heavy vehicles were issued notices
for violating sound pollution norms by using air horns. Of these, 90 are
government vehicles under the jurisdiction of Krishnagiri and Hosur RTO
offices. This year about 103 vehicles including 39 government vehicles
were issued notices.
As part of the Road Safety Week
conducted during the first week of January (1 to 7) several programmes
including awareness rally on road safety, eye camps for lorry drivers,
oratorical competitions for school and college students, and first aid
camps through live demonstration to the Home Guards at the Krishnagiri
RTO offices were held. As part of the Road Safety Week, twenty-one
drivers from the TNSTC were given awards by District Collector T.P.
Rajesh at the valedictory functions held at a private school in
Krishnagiri on January 7.
The students participated in the oratorical competitions were also given prizes by the Collector, an official said.
