Nagpur: Citizens may no longer to wait endlessly for action against blaring DJs, loudspeakers or other noise violations. Once Nagpur’s new noise pollution complaint system goes live, police stations will have three hours to act on a citizen’s complaint. In case of non-action, the matter will automatically escalate to senior police officials.The digital system, developed by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) IT department following directions of the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court, is aimed at ensuring swift action against noise pollution. A portal and mobile application will allow citizens to lodge complaints, upload evidence and track action taken through a reference number.The system, conceptualised by NMC IT officer Swapnil Lokhande and developed with Mars Telecom, has also been integrated with NMC’s website. Police, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and district administration will have access to complaints relevant to their jurisdiction.The biggest feature is the time-bound escalation mechanism. Under the proposed service-level agreement, a police station inspector will have three hours to act. If the complaint remains unresolved, it will move to assistant commissioner of police, who will get one hour. A further escalation will take the complaint to deputy commissioner of police, who will have to resolve it immediately.Citizens will be able to report violations such as midnight loudspeakers, DJs on roads, construction noise, vehicle horns, industrial noise and firecrackers. They can upload photographs and a two-MB audio recording and use the portal’s live decibel meter to capture the noise level.The complainant will enter the location, date and time of the violation and can use GPS to pinpoint the spot. The system will also provide an option to keep the complainant’s identity confidential.Simultaneously, NMC has identified 570 establishments as silence zones across the city’s 10 administrative zones, covering courts, educational institutions and hospitals. Lakadganj zone has the highest number at 123, followed by Hanuman Nagar with 80 and Dhantoli with 64.The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 prescribe a maximum limit of 50 decibels during the day and 40 dB at night in silence zones. The corresponding limits are 55/45 dB in residential areas, 65/55 dB in commercial areas and 75/70 dB in industrial areas.A central dashboard will enable municipal commissioner, divisional commissioner, district collector and police commissioner to monitor complaints, their status and disposal.The system will be opened to citizens after obtaining the necessary court approval, officials said.HOW SYSTEM WILL WORK1. REGISTER: Citizen registers with name, mobile number and email ID2. FILE COMPLAINT: Selects the type and source of noise violation3. PINPOINT LOCATION: Enters address, selects police station/zone and uses GPS4. ADD EVIDENCE: Uploads photo, video or audio and records the decibel level5. GET REFERENCE NUMBER: Complaint generates a tracking number immediately6. 3-HOUR DEADLINE: Police station inspector must act within three hours7. AUTOMATIC ESCALATION: Unresolved complaints move to ACP and then DCP8. TRACK ACTION: Citizen can check status and action taken online
