The Head of Forest Force (HoFF), Government of Maharashtra, has directed all Field Directors of tiger reserves in the State to initiate immediate action and treating the entire Tiger Reserve area, including eco-sensitive zones (ESZ), as ‘Silence Zones’ under the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000 recently. HoFF took this decision after the judgement of Supreme Court of India, directing all states for regulating of noise levels in and around tiger reserves and other Protected Areas (PAs). Along with ESZs, all buffer and fringe areas, not less than one kilometre from their outer boundaries, and formulate a policy to declare the entire tiger reserve as silence zone. This decision will bring complete ban on mining activities within a distance of 1 km from a tiger habitat or a buffer area.

 

The Supreme Court directed all states to implement the order within three months from the date of the judgement, which is November 19, 2025. HoFF gave free hand to Field Directors and Deputy Field Directors to enforce silence zone regulation and take action under relevant statutes. The forest officials can co-ordinate with district administration, police, transport authorities and local bodies for effective implementation of silence zone order. The forest boss also directed its staff to issue necessary field-level instructions to range officers, protection staff, safari operators, and other stakeholders to strictly adhere to silence zone norms. 

 

 

Acting swiftly on HoFF’s order, the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) management restricted the use of loud music in all resorts and hotels situated close to forest area. The norms will be implemented in PTR, Umred Paoni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary (UPKWS) and Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR). Hotels and resorts situated close to forest areas in all these tiger reserves have to follow the restriction on New Year’s eve as well. “We recently conducted a co-ordination committee meeting in which we involved district administration, police and other stakeholders to discuss the new norms. We have given instructions to all stakeholders for implementation of the order,” Akshay Gajbhiye, Deputy Director, PTR told The Hitavada. “The management has also banned use of loudspeakers at religious structures in villages and during programmes. A meeting was also held with National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in which we directed it to install sound and light barriers at National Highway No 44 to reduce the impact of sound and light in Protected Areas,” claimed Gajbhiye. “Use of DJ and loud music during events is now completely prohibited and if any one flouts the norm, the Department will take strict action under the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000,” said the Deputy Director.