The Delhi High Court directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) to devise methods to curb noise pollution caused by aircraft in the vicinity of the airport.

A bench comprising acting Chief Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Mukta Gupta directed DIAL and DGCA to devise long and short-term ways to reduce to minimum the sound pollution arising out of the landing and taking off air planes so that it did not affect people at hospitals and residential areas nearby.

Additional Solicitor General A S Chandhiok told the High Court that there were minimum 40 landings at the Indira Gandhi International airport and closing down of the runway would mean total chaos to the travellers. He said; `We plan to create a separate airport zone as part of a long-term planning to curb noise pollution. We have prepared the long and short-term steps that we are planning to implement to control noise pollution in the airport vicinity.'

Earlier, the High Court had barred DIAL from using the runway no 28 at IGI airport after the Indian Spinal Injuries hospital, in its petition, alleged that the noise created by landing aircraft flying at a low height of 200-300 feet was disturbing patients which should not allowed during night as the practice followed in other countries.

The hospital said the noise created by the planes was usually between the range of 75 and 94 decibel and was clearly beyond the stipulated standards laid down under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. To this the Additional Solicitor General said, `The airport was there earlier, but the hospital came later, now we are doing our best to control noise pollution.