Judgment of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Society for protection of Culture Heritage Environment Traditions and Promotion of National Awareness Vs Union of India & Others dated 21/03/2024. The matter related to noise pollution at airports.

Delhi International Airport Ltd. informed the court that it had issued circulars to all the airlines operating at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) and ATC Palam requesting them to follow the best practices on noise mitigation measures and adopt latest new fleets, technologies and procedures to make aircraft operations quieter while ensuring a safe and efficient operational environment but this is applicable to airports under management of Delhi International Airport. No similar circulars and directions have been issued by AAI in respect of the airports which are being maintained by it and the airlines operating at such airports. In our view, AAI should also issue similar directions to all airports maintained by it and also the concerned airlines which are operating at such airports. This exercise should be undertaken by AAI within two months from this judgment, said the NGT.

DGCA was also directed to issue similar circulars, requesting all the concerned airports as also airlines operating thereat to take effective steps for mitigating noise level so as to comply with the Notification dated June 18, 2018  by issuing requisite circulars and also by appending a copy of this judgment to all the concerned airports and also airlines operating at such airports, within three months, the order added.

The court also suggested that MoEF&CC in consultation with concerned Ministry of Urban Development and Aviation and also in consultation with the respective state governments, and concerned departments should make provisions so as to protect future development of airports as also people from involuntary facing noise pollution due to construction of residential and/or commercial buildings near the new airports which are under construction/development.