Noise Pollution Around IGI Airport: NGT Seeks Action Taken Report From AAI, DIAL [Read Order]

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on May 21, 2019, in the case of Society for Protection of Culture, Heritage, Environment, Traditions and Promotion of National Awareness v. Union of India has directed the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to submit "factual and action taken" report within a month.

A Bench comprising of chairperson, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice S.P. Wangdi (Judicial Member), Justice K. Ramakrishnan (Judicial Member) and Dr. Nagin Nanda (Expert Member) passed the order on an application seeking enforcement of a decision pronounced by the Tribunal on November 24, 2017, pertaining to noise pollution in the vicinity of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

In 2017, the Tribunal issued the following directions:-

• “We direct all the official respondents to take all mitigating measures for reducing noise pollution in terms of the report submitted by MoEF and as even proposed by these very respondents themselves, expeditiously.
• The official respondents shall act in furtherance to the report of IIT in relation to construction of sound barriers, which report of IIT is accepted by the Tribunal. However, if any, variations are suggested and the official respondents consider it proper to carry out such variations on the ground of safety, security and height of the sound barrier walls, the same may be implemented after discussion with the team of IIT. The sound barriers should be constructed at the earliest and in accordance with report.
• The official respondents shall ensure providing of a green belt around the boundary wall of the airport, while keeping the safety and security both in mind. The plantations shall be of the species which would only grow to the permissible height or would be maintained at the permissible height only.
• The official respondents may issue an advisory to all the airlines whose aircrafts land at the runway of the IGI and domestic Airport, New Delhi to ensure 'judgment based' use of reverse thrust keeping in view weather, length of run way, wind, and other attendant circumstances to reduce the noise level particularly at the time of landing of aircrafts.
• All the coaches/buses and other vehicles plying at the airport should be CNG and must comply with the prescribed emission standards. Non-CNG buses/coaches or other vehicles plying at the airport, should be converted to CNG within six months from today.”

The Tribunal has listed the matter for further consideration on August 23, 2019.

[Read Order]