The Gujarat High Court has ordered an inspection of noise pollution caused by wind turbines in Bhavnagar district and sought a report on it.
The directive came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vikrambhai Nanjibhai Dabhi.
The court’s order addressed concerns about wind turbines violating Central Government guidelines and noise pollution regulations.
Key points:
– The Central Government’s guidelines for onshore wind power projects are mandatory, not directory.
– Wind turbines must be at least 500 meters away from dwelling clusters to mitigate noise.
– The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) and Collector must implement guidelines.
– Noise pollution rules dictate ambient air quality standards for different areas/zones.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi, cited the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, emphasizing the importance of maintaining acceptable noise levels.
The Bench directed the Collector, GEDA officers, and Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) officers must conduct a joint inspection and submit a report by November 22, 2024.