FPJ OPED Noise
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What is noise pollution?
Noise pollution is unwanted human-created sound that disrupts the environment. The dominant form of noise pollution is from transportation sources, principally motor vehicles, referred to as environmental noise. Besides this, in cities, construction activity, un-regulated use of loudspeakers and fire-crackers during festivals contribute greatly to the noise in our environment. The word noise comes from the Latin word nausea meaning seasickness.
Sources of Noise:
1. Motor vehicles: The overarching cause of most noise worldwide is generated by transportation systems, principally motor vehicle noise, but also including aircraft noise and rail noise.
2. Equipment and Machinery: Other prominent sources are office equipment, factory machinery, appliances, power tools, lighting hum and audio entertainment systems. With the popularity of digital audio player devices, individuals in a noisy area might increase the volume in order to drown out ambient sounds. Construction equipment, such as drilling machines, stone-cutters, etc. especially produce noise pollution.
3. Loudspeakers:
Loudspeakers are used for all and every type of function, whether social, political, religious, commercial or recreational. Noise from loudspeakers adds to the already high overall decibel levels in the city. Indian festivals are traditionally celebrated with song and dance in large groups, using musical instruments, drums and fireworks. Unfortunately in recent years, it has become a trend to amplify the celebrations using loudspeakers and the festivals have become very noisy. Noise levels have greatly increased in recent years by the use of loudspeakers and other sound amplification systems used indiscriminately in crowded cities during festivals, marriages and other functions.
4. Fire-crackers:
Noisy firecrackers are often used, either alongside loudspeakers or on their own, for social, religious and political functions and for recreational and commercial activities. Police regulations ban firecrackers between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. There are special regulations for firecrackers near hospitals, nursing homes, etc., as well a list of banned fire-crackers released by the Police, but these regulations are poorly implemented.
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The Noise Pollution (Control & Regulation) Rules 2000
These Rules restrict noise levels in zones specified as Silence Zones, Residential Zones, Commercial Zones and Industrial Zones. Due to the density of the city, most of Mumbai is a Silence Zone where noise levels are restricted to maximum levels of 40dB by night and 50dB by day.
a. Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000, maximum permissible decibel levels for different zones are laid down as under:
Ambient Air Quality Standards in respect of Noise
|
Area Code |
Category of Area/Zone |
Limits in dB(A) Leq * |
|
|
Day Time |
Night Time |
||
|
(A) |
Industrial area |
75 |
70 |
|
(B) |
Commercial area |
65 |
55 |
|
(C) |
Residential area |
55 |
45 |
|
(D) |
Silence Zone |
50 |
40 |
Note :
1. Day time shall mean from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.
2. Night time shall mean from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m.
3. Silence zone is defined as an area comprising not less than 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions , religious places and courts. The silence zones are zones which are declared as such by the competent authority.
b. Loudspeaker permissions are granted by the Police. Such permissions are granted after taking into consideration the location for use of loudspeakers. Zones are designated according to their nature Silence Zones, Residential Zones, etc. No loudspeakers are permitted in Silence Zones at any time, day or night, or in Residential Zones at night and decibel levels in Residential Zones are restricted during the day.
c. Violation of the Noise Rules is a cognizable offence, carrying a jail term of upto 5 years and penalty upto Rs 1 lakh under the Environment Protection Act.
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NGO Profile:
The Awaaz Foundation, a Mumbai based NGO dedicated to reducing Noise Pollution
Mission: To enlist the support of policy makers, implementing agencies & citizens in limiting noise from construction and traffic & to make Mumbai a peaceful city.
The Awaaz Foundation has focussed on noise pollution caused by traffic, including conducting of a seminar in February 2006 entitled ‘Peaceful Mumbai’ which was attended by the Member-Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the Joint Commissioner Police (Traffic), NGOs, citizens etc. A book titled, Our Society and Noise Pollution was released at the seminar and was published by “the Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, and is available at the MVP office for Rs. 20/-. This booklet gives information on all aspects of noise pollution and the laws governing it’s control, including the rights and responsibilities of citizens to ensure a noise free environment and how the common man could play his part in curbing noise around him. (For booklet, contact Marathi Vidnyan Parishad at Ph – 25224714 / 25226268)
The Awaaz Foundation has also recorded noise levels at several religious places in Mumbai city including masjids, temples, gurdwaras etc., and has filed a Notice of Motion in Writ Petition No 2053 of 2003 praying for loudspeaker use at religious places to be regulated in accordance with law. The Courts decision on the same is still expected.
The PIL which is currently in progress in the Mumbai High Court is a proceeding filed by Mr Gaurang Vora, against the consistent and wilful violations of the Noise Rules. The Awaaz Foundation is supporting this PIL as it has recorded scientific data of noise levels at every major festival since 2003 including Ambedkar Jayanti, Ganpati, Navratri, Id, Diwali, Christmas, marriage festivals, Police functions, political rallies, religious places etc., and all these have been in violation of the Noise Rules.
Contact details:
The Awaaz Foundation
Contact Person : Sumaira Abdulali
Address : 75, New Silver Home,
New Kantwadi Road,
Bandra (W), Mumbai – 400 050.
Phone : 98215 20805.
Email : sumairaabdulali@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.awaaz.org/
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What You Can Do?
Your Guide to a Noise Free Mumbai:
- Buy a noise meter. These available for about Rs,2000 at various shop in Princess Street.
- Maintain a chart recording noise levels at various times of day including daytime and night-time. Start this exercise a few days prior to the anticipated festivals or functions to establish ambient noise levels.
- When decibel levels exceed ambient levels due to loudspeaker use or where loudspeakers are used in a silence zone, complain to the police control room at 100 and 102. Ensure that you get a complaint number for future follow up.
- Send your readings including violations, if any to the commissioner of police and deputy commissioner of police with a demand for them to take action against violators.
- If necessary, legal action can be taken by filing a complaint in the magistrates court under the Environment Protection Act.
Approaches to reduce Noise Exposure:
- By reducing noise at source
- limiting transmission of noise form noisy areas by placing physical barriers
- Noise insulation of buildings in sensitive areas using double glazed windows, etc.
Instruments for Noise Reduction:
- The law
- The courts
- Administrative procedures
- Implementation and enforcement
- Awareness
- NGOs and citizen involvement
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Some citizens responses to Noise Pollution:
Instances of violations of Noise Rules were required to be produced in Court for the on-going PIL regarding Noise Violations. The following are some of the replies received from citizens in response to the same:
1. Stationery Loudspeaker for Club members cars
Noise affecting thousands of residents in about 40 buildings of the Hajiali & Tardeo area, and on Tardeo Road from Haji Ali to AC Market affecting 40 buildings, and also on E Moses Road from Haji Ali to Race Course. The noise is being produced on and off throughout the day and up to 2 am at night
The Willingdon Club has installed a very loud new mike to announce the drivers to get their cars. This mike is so loud that it can be heard up to 1 km away at night. Every 5 minutes or at busy times, continuously, a loud announcement is made asking a particular driver to report.
Possible Solution: We request that the club be asked to place multiple speakers throughout their various car parks, and that the volume of each speaker is kept lowest possible. The objective is to stop the disturbance and jarring effect created by their loud announcement system. In this way the club will be able to announce for the drivers and yet the residents will be able to sleep peacefully.
S. Mehta
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2. Existing Laws are not being implemented
Using the right to information act, I had written to the Borivali police station as follows:
I require details of persons against whom action has been taken for violating the norms of the Noise Pollution Rules 2000 during any festival in the above period. Provide me the names of the persons, and the Case Numbers of the cases filed.
They replied that that they have not taken action against anybody yet.
Regards,
S. Shetty
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3. Violations by Traffic Police Themselves
Noise violations occur outside the Traffic Police Headquarters at Worli every night.
Their jeeps blow the horn to get back into the headquarters.
They play loud music at all religious festivals.
Every day in Mumbai traffic people blow the horn unnecessarily.
People living near the Traffic Police HQ cannot sleep at night as the honking creates unnecessary stress. The loud music during is disturbing as it does not give you any calm or peace of mind.
Regards,
A. Saigal
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4.Government Authorities not co-operating with citizens
I would like to know on which dates the Maharashtra Govt has extended the noise deadline from 10pm to 12am. I called up 103 and they said that today the deadline is extended till 12am. They told me that the deadline is extended till the end of Ganesh festival WHICH IS NOT TRUE.
I am aware that only on CERTAIN dates, the deadline is extended till 12am. 103 also REFUSED TO GIVE ME A COMPLAINT NUMBER saying that I should call after 15 mins. They also said that although the deadline is extended till 12am the noise level should not be too much and if it is, then I am supposed to tell the procession to reduce their noise. The noise level is painfully high and violates my health and my human rights but I don’t know if this is technically a violation in the eyes of the Indian courts.
V.Ajgaonkar
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For more information on Noise Pollution, including articles, views and research papers, see
www.karmayog.org/noise-pollution
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