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Debate No. 20 of 30.06.09

(No. B/680) Mrs M. Martin (Second Member for Curepipe & Midlands) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether, in regard to noise pollution, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Police de l’Environnement, information as to the measures taken to ensure that the environmental regulations are abided by, especially, in the residential areas.

The Minister of Health and Quality of Life (Dr. R. Jeetah): With your permission, I shall reply to this question.

My Ministry in addition to the Ministry of Environment and National Development Unit, the Police and the Local Authorities are empowered to take actions under the Environment Protection Act, EPA 2002.

As regards measures taken to ensure compliance with the Environmental Regulations, I am informed that -

(i) Five sound level meters have been acquired to effect noise monitoring exercise throughout the country.

(ii) All complaints received are attended to. Where it is established that there is noise pollution, a warning is issued followed by a Programme Notice, Enforcement Notice and Prohibition Notice where required as per provision of the Act in case the noise pollution persists.

(iii) In view of increasing number of noise complaints occurring during weekends, my Ministry has set up a flying squad to attend to noise complaints outside office hours. The flying squad consists of one Senior Health Engineering Officer and one Health Engineering officer who are on call every week.

Furthermore, the said team is conducting noise surveys on Friday and Saturday nights to monitor noise more particularly from discotheques, nightclubs and bungalows. In this respect, my Ministry is working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and NDU and the Police. Their assistance is being sought as and when required based on the nature of the complaints.

(iv) I am also informed by the Police de L’Environnement that preventive patrols are undertaken every week ends in the Northern, Central and Western part of the island, especially during odd hours so as to reduce and control noise pollution.

(v) Moreover, regular meetings of Environment Liaison Officers Committee and the Environment Coordination Committee are held to coordinate the efforts of all the enforcing agencies regarding environmental matters including noise pollution amongst others.

Mrs Martin: I thank the hon. Minister for his answer. Is he aware that regulations regarding noise pollution differ from one local authority to another and can we, therefore, find some way in which to harmonise these regulations so as to have a more holistic approach to this problem?

Dr. Jeetah: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will look into the matter.

Mrs Martin: The Minister also mentioned several measures that are being taken in order to prevent noise pollution. Can we know how far these measures have been effective?

Dr. Jeetah: If the hon. Member wishes to know of the number of complaints, I have figures I can circulate.

Mr Jhugroo: The hon. Minister just mentioned special patrols. Can I know how many persons have been fined for noise pollution since January 2009?

Dr. Jeetah: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have received 208 complaints out of which 76 were justified and 5 notices have been served. I am also informed that eight contraventions have been established by the Police de l’Environnement from January 2009 to 25 June 2009.

Mr Bhagwan: Mr Speaker, Sir, one of the problems concerning noise pollution which the public is facing is motor cycles, with or without silencers, which at night create lots of problems. Has the hon. Minister liaise with his colleague, the Minister of Public Infrastructure, responsible for the NTA, to amend the regulations and also request the Police to take action concerning these motorcycles without silencers or with half of the silencers?

Dr. Jeetah: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I did mention that there are regular meetings. I will pass on the message to the Committee.

Mr Jhugroo: Can I ask the hon. Minister how many patrol units there are? How many people are working there and how many vehicles are attached to these units?

Dr. Jeetah: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have one Chief Sanitary Engineer, two Principal Health Engineering Officers, five Senior Health Engineering Officers and ten Health Engineering Officers.

Mrs Martin: The hon. Minister also mentioned just before that he had figures regarding the number of complaints and the number of arrests and actions consequently taken. Most often it is after complaint has been made that the Police tries to find out whether or not there has been noise pollution. May I know from him whether the Police could not act on its own in known areas, especially in residential areas, where such problems can occur at known times and known periods; that they can go and, at least, try to find some way to address the issue so that the other inhabitants live in peace?

Dr. Jeetah: Yes, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I did reply that, in view of the increase in noise complaints, we have created a flying squad which is looking into the matter and it is collaborating with the Police de l’Environnement, with my colleague from Local Government and the Ministry of Environment and NDU.

Mrs Martin: Would the Minister agree with me that a flying squad is not enough to cover the whole country and, therefore, perhaps he could consider increasing the number so that it would cover adequately the problems that are being faced?

Dr. Jeetah: I see what the hon. Member is getting at, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, but I’ll have to do with the resources that we have available.

Keywords: noise pollution, sound level meters