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Polity & Governance
Mahesh

22/04/22 20:23 PM IST

Noise Pollution

In News 
  • An ultimatum by Raj Thackeray, president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), that repercussions would follow if speakers on mosques were not removed by May 3, has created political turmoil in the state.
Noise 
  • As per the Central Pollution Control Board’s mandate for noise pollution, ‘noise’ is defined as unwanted sound. Sound, which pleases the listener, is music and that which causes pain and annoyance is noise.
  • At times, what is music for some can be noise for others. Any unwanted sound that causes annoyance, irritation and pain to the human ear is termed ‘noise’.

The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 
  • Section 2 (a) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 includes noise in the definition of ‘air pollutant’.
  • Noise pollution and its sources are regulated under The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 under The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  • The Act has defined ambient acceptable noise levels, silence zones, restrictions on the use of loudspeakers, horns, sound-emitting construction equipment, and bursting of crackers.
  • It has also laid down the responsibility for enforcement.
  • Noise pollution Rules have defined the acceptable level of noise in different zones for both daytime and nighttime. In industrial areas, the permissible limit is 75 decibels (unit of sound; tenth of a ‘bell’, symbol dB) for daytime, and 70 dB for night.
  • Daytime is defined as the period from 6 am to 10 pm, and night is 10 pm to 6 am of the following day.
  • In commercial areas, these ceilings are fixed at 65 dB and 55 dB, while in residential areas they are 55 dB and 45 dB during daytime and night respectively
  • In silence zones, i.e., an area comprising not less than 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions and courts, it is 50 dB in the daytime and 40 dB during the night.
Impact on Health 
  • According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 1.1 billion young people (aged between 12–35 years) are at the risk of hearing loss due to noise exposure.
  • The WHO has stated that there is sufficient evidence that noise exposure at night causes self-reported sleep disturbance and noise-induced sleep disturbance is viewed as a health problem.
  • WHO also states there is evidence, albeit limited, that disturbed sleep causes fatigue, accidents and reduced performance.
  • Various physical disorders due to higher noise include temporary deafness, headache and an increase in blood pressure.
Source-PIB 

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