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| Chopper service to Mata Vaishno Devi a health hazard for locals: LA report | | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Feb 27: The chopper service between Katra and Sanjhi Chatt near Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is being operational in brazen violation of laid down rules and regulations on noise pollution thereby putting the lives of the residents of Katra and its peripheries at peril.
The fact has been brought to the fore in a report of the Committee on Petitions of the 11th State Legislative Assembly which was tabled in the House on February 25.
The fourth Report of the Committee on Petitions headed by Congress MLA Ashok Kumar while reviewing a petition of one Krishan Kumar Sharma of Katra regarding unbearable volume of noise pollution being generated due to continuous operation of helicopters from Serli (Katra) helipad has observed that the service is causing noise pollution beyond accepted norms in Katra and its vicinity.
The Committee received Krishan Kumar's petition on October 1, 2013 stating therein that the level of ambient noise pollution has enormously increased due to continuous operation of helicopters from Serli helipad near Katra managed by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Katra in association with State Police and two private operators.
The petitioner said that helicopters were being operated in violation of noise pollution rules and regulations with the result the life of the inhabitants of the area had become miserable especially that of school going children.
Krishan Kumar's petition further said that he time and again approached the concerned for the redressal of his grievance but unfortunately the same was not attended at their end. Besides, the authorities of SMVDSB, the main stake holder in the management of the affair there, also turned a deaf ear to the request for shifting the helipad from Arli to an inhabited area.
After taking into consideration the appeal and going through the contents of the petition on November 22, 2013, the Committee observed that thought he helicopter services presently in operation from Serli, Katra to Sanjhi Chatt near Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has proved beneficial to the pilgrims but at the same time was causing noise pollution at a large scale thereby putting the inhabitants to numerous inconveniences.
"While responding to the queries, the Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB admitted that the noise pollution is being caused by the helicopter operations," said the contents of the report.
"The Deputy Commissioner, Reasi while taking part in the deliberations gave a detailed break-up of the pollution level being created by the regular operations which were presently recorded at 100 dB at the time of take off and 120 dB at the time of landing which should not normally exceed 45-55 dB as per the noise pollution (Control and Regulation) Rule 2000," the report added.
The Report further informed that the Deputy Commissioner, Reasi had conveyed that the District Administration was already aware of the problem as was being faced by the residents by the noise pollution being caused by the choppers and they were looking for a feasible site at Reasi-Katra Road to construct a big helipad there.
In its observation, the House Committee also said that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine assures not only the national but the international importance and as such, it was imperative on the part of very concerned organizations to develop it more and more keeping in view the influx of the pilgrims and the facilities to be provided to them.
"However, at the same time the environment aspects were to be taken seriously by all the concerned departments especially the noise pollution which as per the health standards was detrimental for the general masses and there was need to take both long term as well as short term measures to contain the nuisance," the Report observed. |
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