LUCKNOW, Oct. 13 -- The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to forthwith proceed to comply with the provisions of Rule 3 of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and start identifying areas that can be categorised as industrial, commercial, residential or silence zone, in case no such notification has been issued. This categorisation is necessary as it is on the basis of such categorisation that enforcement of noise pollution standards and maintenance of decibel levels prescribed under the Rules can be enforced. It shall also be necessary for furnishing reports under rules, the court directed. "Accordingly, in case such categorisation has not been done, the state is directed to forthwith proceed to categorise all areas within the next three months," the court ordered. A division bench of justice Alok Mathur and justice Amitabh Kumar Rai passed the order on October 8 (order uploaded recently) while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) plea registered suo motu in 2021 on the issue of noise pollution by modified silencers, hooters. During hearing of the case, it was brought to the notice of the court that the state government is first required to categorise the areas into industrial, commercial, residential, or silence zones for the purpose of implementing noise standards for different areas. Accordingly, the court passed the said directives. "Further, it is noticed that there is no dispute that the law already prohibits the use of pressure/power horns on vehicles, and accordingly, the respondents shall take effective steps to curb the sale, installation and use of pressure horns," the court directed. The court was informed that a similar position exists with regard to hooters, which can be used on authorised vehicles and state vehicles, including ambulances. It has been reported that a number of private vehicles have been seen using hooters illegally and arbitrarily and strict and stringent steps ought to be taken to curb the use of illegal hooters. "Let a report in this regard be furnished before this court on the next date of listing," the court directed. It directed to list this case on January 15, 2027, for next hearing. Earlier, the court had directed the DGP, transport commissioner and the member-secretary of UPPCB to take strict action across the state to check noise pollution caused by modified silencers and illegal hooters as per its earlier orders. The court had said a proper mechanism should be evolved by all stakeholders to curb such noise pollution....