Post smog, capital stumbles on noise block

The national capital is also being throttled by the adverse effects of noise pollution.

NEW DELHI: Not just air pollution, the national capital is also being throttled by the adverse effects of noise pollution. A study conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed alarming rise in pollution levels Delhi. Four silence zones in Delhi have recorded 98 per cent rise in noise pollution and two commercial zones have registered 100 per cent increase in noise pollution levels.

The CPCB under the Ministry of Environment and Forests monitored 10 stations—Mandir Marg, Dilshad Garden, Dwarka and Bawana under silence zone; Anand Vihar, Civil Lines, Karkardooma and ITO under commercial zone; and Punjabi Bagh and RK Puram under residential zones—between January 2015-December 2015.

Vehicles and industrial activities are the major source of noise pollution in Delhi. “Increasing ambient noise level in public places are a result of industrial activities, construction work, generators sets, loud speakers, public addresses, music systems, vehicular horns and other mechanical devices.  It has deleterious effects on human health and the psychological well being of the people,” the study stated.

At most locations, the noise level data was way beyond permissible limits of silence zone (50 db), residential (55 db), commercial (65 db) and industrial (75 db). The sound level data fetched from real time noise monitoring station was compared with ambient noise standards.

At ITO and Dwarka, 100 per cent increase was observed during day and night while at the remaining eight stations 98 per cent rise was recorded. The worst part was that at silence zones too the noise data was way beyond the permissible limit.

CPCB chairman SP Singh Parihar said, “The objective of the study was to find collective significant factor and its collective impacts as to help the concerned authorities and planners for decision making at pro-active stage. The data has been communicated to the authorities and will be placed in public domain for mass awareness.”

Under Section 2(a) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 noise is defined as air pollutant present in the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or environment.

High levels of noise can cause hypertension, stress, hearing impairment, sleep disturbance and heart ailment among others.