Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 4 July: At an event held on Saturday at the Press Club, here, residents of the city, retired civil and military officials, and environmental advocates came together to launch Uttarakhand Against Noise Pollution (UANP), a citizens’ collective dedicated to addressing the growing challenge of noise pollution across the state and demanding stricter enforcement of existing laws against violations by hotels, resorts, restaurants, pubs, wedding venues and event organisers.
In his introductory remarks, Anoop Nautiyal said that UANP was being formed with three key objectives: to build public awareness and a statewide citizen movement against noise pollution through local chapters across Uttarakhand; to encourage hotels, resorts, wedding venues, builders, religious event organisers and other establishments to voluntarily curb noise pollution; and to urge the police, urban local bodies, the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and other authorities to adopt a far more proactive approach towards enforcing the Noise Pollution Rules.
Major General Atul Rawat (Retired), a resident of Whispering Willows on Mussoorie Diversion, described spending nearly Rs 2 lakh to soundproof his windows after enduring relentless noise from nearby restaurants and pubs, as well as night-time construction noise from upcoming residental project, Excentia Tatva. This situation has also adversely affected his elderly parents’ health.
Lt Col Karuna Thapliyal (Retired), who built her home at Kuthaal Gate after retirement, said she was ultimately forced to sell it due to constant sound pollution disturbances within the neighborhood. She alleged that after raising complaints she faced harassment, including weekend tourists standing outside her gate, playing loud vulgar music and repeatedly ringing her doorbell.
Eighty-four-year old Dharam Singh Rawat, a retired Survey of India official and resident of Malsi Village, where his family has lived for over 200 years, spoke about the severe health impacts caused by noise from several hotels like Taj and Marriot at the foothills of Mussoorie, describing the locality as increasingly unliveable.
Vinesh Rawat, another Malsi resident whose grandchildren, aged six months to five years, are repeatedly startled awake by late-night music and fireworks, said the situation had become so unbearable that he asked whether long-time residents were simply expected to give up hope, adding that many elderly residents had nowhere else to go.
Sultan Singh, whose home borders the Taj property, said the noise makes it impossible to hold a normal conversation inside his own house.
Pankaj Rawat, whose residence lies between Fairfield, Taj and other hotels said his family, including senior citizens, continues to suffer from noise originating from both directions.
Nitin Ahlawat highlighted the ecological impacts of excessive noise, pointing to a visible decline in bird populations in the adjoining Malsi forest. He noted that the hotels lie barely 200 metres by air from the forest, making the ecological impact direct and significant. He also clarified that permissible sound limits before 10 PM are measured at the boundary of the premises generating the noise and not as a blanket exemption until 10 PM.
Vivek Ahlawat recounted the group’s engagement with the Taj property, stating that despite assurances to install sound barriers within three months, the commitment had not been honoured and loud music continued. He also spoke about an elderly heart patient in the village who continues to suffer because of the disturbance, with nowhere else to relocate at this stage of life.
Keerti Ahlawat explained the prescribed ambient noise standards for residential areas—55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night, measured at the property boundary. She described her long and unresolved journey through the complaint process, involving the hotel management, the 1095 portal, the District Magistrate’s office, the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and the Municipal Corporation. She also spoke about the impact of chronic noise on her son’s board examination preparation, her own health, and the wider physiological impacts of prolonged noise exposure.
The event also marked the launch of the UANP Kumaon Chapter in Corbett, led by Sumantha Ghosh, bringing together residents addressing similar challenges arising from resorts, hotels and other commercial establishments in the region.
In the concluding remarks, Anoop Nautiyal, Aloke Lal and Jagmohan Mendiratta collectively called upon citizens across Uttarakhand to join the movement and establish local UANP chapters in their respective towns and cities.
UANP said that Saturday’s launch marks the beginning of a sustained statewide campaign and that the collective will continue engaging with citizens, businesses and government agencies to promote accountability, strengthen enforcement and work towards quieter, healthier and more liveable communities across Uttarakhand.
