The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is preparing to introduce a special set of regulations under the new environmental legislation to control noise pollution, which has a serious impact on the public and the environment.
Commenting on the proposed regulations, the Director General of the CEA said that once the new amendments come into effect, police will be empowered to arrest individuals accused of noise pollution offences without a warrant.
Under the new regulations, legal provisions will be introduced to allow the arrest without a warrant of individuals who use loudspeakers, vehicles or other equipment in a manner that exceeds prescribed noise levels and causes public nuisance.
The proposed amendments also seek to significantly increase fines and prison sentences for offences related to noise pollution.
Measures will also be introduced to regulate all sources of noise that are harmful to the environment, including excessive noise at religious and festive events, factories, night-time parties and loud music played inside passenger transport vehicles.
The CEA further stated that the main objective of the new measures is to minimise the harm caused by noise pollution to public health and the balance of the environment.
