The capital city has been booming with ear-splitting and hell raising levels of noise pollution for the past many years. Though the recorded noise levels from various parts of the city have been way above the permitted standards for residential, commercial and sensitive zones, the available statistics show a certain amount of consistency. Officials at AP Pollution Control Board, note, honking from vehicles as the most dreaded source of noise pollution in Hyderabad.
Sources of noise pollution are plenty. Like, places of worship, religious gatherings or political meetings, could be classified into a seasonal source, though they are increasingly becoming a daily affair, noise pollution caused from ever growing vehicular traffic is the biggest source of noise pollution.
“In Hyderabad, though decibel levels are above permissible limits, there is no much variation in noise pollution levels even over the last 5-6 years. Government has been concentrating on air pollution levels,” said Veeranna Patil, junior scientific officer, APPCB. Asked about what is being done, he said, “We do not have any action plan to deal with noise pollution. First and foremost, government should ban the use of horns.”
Dr Manish Kumar, ENT specialist at Government ENT hospital said that about 100 patients visit the hospital every week on an average complaining about hearing difficulties. “Those who are constantly exposed to loud sounds like traffic constables, shopkeepers, etc develop a ringing sensation in ears. This is irreversible and there is no medication. To some extent, a hearing aid may help,” said Dr Kumar. He advises use of cotton or ear plugs as a measure of prevention.
The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, have set standards with regard to noise, classifying the environment into four (residential, commercial, industrial and sensitive areas) and setting a permissible level for each between 6am and 10pm. And for the nights, a separate standard limit is set. In Hyderabad, the decibel levels are recorded on real time basis from Jubilee Hills (residential area), Punjagutta and Abids (commercial areas), Jeedimetla (industrial area) and Zoo Park (sensitive area/silent zone). In addition to this, the APPCB would be soon installing five more realtime noise level monitoring stations across the city.
While the permitted decibel levels for residential areas are 55 during day and 45 during nights, it hovered around 56 and 57 during day for 2012 and 2013 respectively and 49 and 51 during nights at Jubilee Hills. Meanwhile, in the silent zone/sensitive areas of Zoo Park, where the permitted levels are 50 for day and 40 for night, the day noise levels hovered around 53 and 54 during days in 2012 and 2013 respectively and 48 and 49 during nights in the same period.
The worst is recorded from commercial areas like Punjagutta and Abids. While standards set are 65 for day and 55 for nights, the noise levels on an average shoot up to 75dB in Punjagutta and 72 dB in Abids during days in both the years. At nights, it hovered around 70dB at Punjagutta and 63 at Abids in 2012 and 71dB at Punjagutta and 66dB at Abids at nights in 2013.
Surprisingly, in Jeedimetla industrial areas, the recorded decibel levels have been considerably below the permitted levels. The area recorded an average 63dB on both the years during days against permitted 75dB. At nights, it was recorded at 55dB and 56dB respectively for 2012 and 2013.
