National Green Tribunal rejects plea challenging use of horns by trains

National Green Tribunal rejects plea challenging use of horns by trains

Marks it as an essential activity in the absence of another option

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has dismissed a plea against the use of horns by trains resulting in a violation of Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules.

In the Ashok Malik & Anr. Vs Ministry of Railways & Ors case, a bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Sudhir Agarwal, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, and expert members Dr A Senthil Veil and Dr Afroz Ahmed said that noise generation due to railway operations that serve a large number of people cannot be disregarded.

The tribunal held, “It is a matter of common knowledge that railway operations serve a large number of population and generation of noise in their operations cannot be wished away. Horns are required to be blown as per the applicable ‘whistle code.’ Thus, while noise free environment is necessary, essential activities have to be conducted in the absence of any other options.”

The NGT was hearing a plea by residents of various localities of Ajmer, Rajasthan, who claimed that they were suffering due to noise pollution generated by railway operations.