The State Government would soon launch a 'No Honking Campaign' in the State to spread awareness regarding health hazard due to unnecessary honking. This was decided in a meeting held here today, which was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Manisha Nanda.Smt. Nanda said that it has been felt that unnecessary honking was not only a public nuisance causing inconvenience to the people, but also reflects how sensitive we are towards out environment and the other living beings. She said that noise was not merely a nuisance, but also a serious environment problem and health hazard. She said that lack of awareness about noise pollution caused by honking and its detrimental imparts on human health and behavour was a major concerned which need to be redressed at the earliest.She said that the campaign would be carried in consultation with all Stakeholders through effective use of electronic and social media. She said that massive information campaign for sensitizing drivers, taxi unions, bus and truck drivers and school children would also be carried effectively. Police personals would be given noise meters at selected locations and they may even be asked to use 'Stop' and 'Go' boards instead of whistles, she added.Additional Chief Secretary said that the campaign would be carried out with the assistance of various stake holders such as Police, State Pollution Control Board, District Administration, Urban Local Bodies, Public Works Department, Educational Institutional and Information and Public Relations Department etc. Assistance of NGOs would also be sought for effective implementation of this campaign.
Smt. Nanda said that a campaign would be launched in the first phase from Shimla and Manali towns and would cover other urban areas of the State in a phased manner. She said that the campaign would cover urban areas only and won't be applicable in rural areas and highways. She said that after the launch of the campaign, the traffic police may begin advising and thereafter challaning people for excessive and unnecessary blowing of vehicle horns.Smt. Nanda said that in order to tackle the problem of unnecessary honking, special efforts would be made to inculcate driving etiquettes in drivers and civic sense in younger generations. She said that since Himachal Pradesh was a tourist destination, it was necessary to provide them peaceful environment. She said that the state also was house of large number of birds and animals and noise pollution was a detrimental for their existences.Smt. Nanda said that the State Government has already banned use of pressure horns in the State.Deputy Commissioner Shimla Shri Amit Kashyap, Special Secretary CM, Science Environment and Technology Shri D.C. Rana, Director Information and Public Relations Shri Anupam Kashyap, Commissioner MC Shimla Rohit Jamwal, Superintendent of Police Shimla, Engineer-in Chief PWD Shri Ashok Chauhan and other senior officers of PWD, State Pollution Control Boards, and Transport etc. were present during the meeting.