Delhi may be the dirtiest city in terms of high air pollution but the dubious distinction of being the noisiest city goes to Mumbai which had reported maximum violations of the safety mark of noise level during a period from 2011-14. Delhi, in fact, came at number four as two other cities, Lucknow and Hyderabad, turned out to be noisier than the capital city which has an advantage of relatively higher green cover and roadside plantation.
Though the most common source of the noise pollution, the one that affects the most people, is motor vehicles, the other sources like generator sets, office machines, aircraft, industrial and construction activities too substantially contribute to increasing the noise level in the cities.
The observation came from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which in its latest report also noted how the noise pollution (noise level beyond the prescribed limits of 55 dB during day and 45 dB during night) can cause aggression, hypertension, hearing loss, tinnitus and sleep disturbance.
"Tinnitus can lead to forgetfulness, severe depression and at times panic attack," said the country's national pollution watchdog that compiled the real time monitoring data from 35 locations in seven cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Lucknow) and flagged its conclusion by averaging the location-wise day time and night time noise level.
The aim of coming out with such a database is to help policymakers in setting standards and formulating policy for controlling noise pollution. Such data is also required to ensure compliance with the existing rules.
At present, the respective state pollution control boards with the help of local police enforce the existing Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules that prescribe provision of written permission for using loud speaker or public address system at night (between 10 pm and 6 am).
Industries and construction sector too have been guided by certain dos and don'ts. But the actions, if any, invariably depend on complaints either by residents or local civic authorities. These sectors are monitored under the National Environment Policy (NEP), 2006 that includes ambient noise as one of the environmental quality parameters.
Though the noise level is currently monitored at 35 locations in seven cities, the plan of the CPCB is to set up monitoring stations at 160 locations across 18 states in due course.
At present, the noise level in Delhi is monitored at ITO, Dilshad Garden, Delhi College of Engineering (DCE), NSIT Dwarka and CPCB headquarters in East Arjun Nagar whereas in Mumbai it is being monitored at MPCB headquarters, Bandra, ASHP ,Vashi Hospital (Navi Mumbai) and Thane.
