But, this is exactly what Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) report for May shows. Across the city, noise pollution was monitored in 8 places and in all eight places, pollution level was higher than permissible limits. Average noise pollution in Arera Colony was at least 16 decibels higher than national standards.

Noise pollution is categorised under four industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones. In Bhopal, noise pollution is measured in commercial, residential and silence zones, which include hospital, education institutes and courts.

Going by report, Lal Ghati Square, the tail end of VIP Road from Kamla Park side, records highest noise pollution level in city in all categories. In Bhopal, a city with over 13 lakh vehicles, there is only one sound meter to check noise pollution. It is taken from one place to another to check noise pollution.

A proposal for continuous monitoring of noise pollution in Bhopal and Indore has been kept on backburner for years.

Standards are different for day and nights as permissible limit for day time is higher than night hours.

Construction activity, fire crackers, sound producing instruments, generator sets, loudspeakers, public address system, vehicular horns are also contributing to noise pollution, experts said.

Getting an accurate picture for state is not possible in the absence of a comprehensive state-wide report. Noise pollution is not measured on a regular basis and it is an exercise conducted barely twice or thrice in a year. Moreover, hardly any action is taken on basis of noise pollution report thus reducing it to sheer formality for officials. Officials said the board is only a monitoring agency and district administration should take action against people violating noise pollution norms.

In order to make real time monitoring of rising noise pollution levels in two major cities of Madhya Pradesh, the pollution board in assistance with its central counterpart, announced to come up with permanent noise level monitor meters at five places in Bhopal and Indore.

The proposal is pending for four years. MPPCB officials said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was supposed to place noise testing meters, but it could not be done

Medical practitioners point noise pollution can lead to serious health problems and it is high time to take it seriously.

ENT specialist Dr Rajbala Singh Bhadauria said loud sound can damage ear nerves. It can also be a reason of hypotension, which increases blood pressure. This is why elderly people get irritated in loud sound," he said.

MPPCB chief chemist Shyamanuj Tiwari said vehicles are main cause of pollution in city. Proper maintenance of vehicles can bring down noise pollution. The place and time where DJs are played must also be regulated to check noise pollution.

Sound meters not placed permanently in Bhopal

Noise testing meter or sound meter is a instrument used for measuring noise pollution. Noise testing meters are not placed permanently anywhere in Bhopal. MPPCB Bhopal office has only one meter to measure noise level. Officials said their teams visit areas in the city to measure noise pollution twice or thrice in a year.

How noise pollution is tested

Vehicles contribute to noise pollution in a big way in urban areas. Officials said one person stands with a meter where noise pollution has to be measured. Another person keeps counting vehicles passing from road. Monitoring goes on for 24 hours to find average of pollution during day and night time. People are deputed in shifts since one person cannot count vehicle for 24 hours, officials said.

No one penalized for sound pollution

MPPCB officials said they are just a monitoring agency. RTO is responsible for checking air pollution and district magistrate or collector is responsible to take action against noise pollution. Under Environment Protection Act, an imprisonment up to five years and fine of Rs 1 lakh can be slapped for violation of the act, including noise pollution. But officials have no idea if anyone is ever punished in the city for noise pollution.