Question : Noise Pollution

(a) whether the noise levels in metro cities including Delhi and Mumbai are above the prescribed limits;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether it is true that the incessant honking of vehicles plying on the roads are a major reason behind the noise pollution and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether life of the people particularly women and children in metropolitan cities are getting affected due to noise pollution and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action plan formulated and the mechanism put in place by the Government to reduce noise pollution in metropolitan cities and urban areas of the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) & (b) Ambient noise levels are monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) at identified locations in seven metro cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Lucknow under the National Ambient Noise Monitoring Programme. City-wise noise levels recorded during 2019are annexed. Noise pollution can be attributed to vehicular traffic, honking, railways, metro trains, aeroplanes, industries, generators, construction activities, use of public address systems, bursting of firecrackers, etc.

(c) Incessant honking of vehicles plying on the roads is one of the sources of noise pollution especially in cities / towns.Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, under the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and Rules notified thereunder have stipulated the norms for noise from horns and vehicles.

(d) Reports indicate that high noise levels can impact health of people including women and childrencauses sleep disturbance, stress, hypertension etc. besides impact on the hearing capacity &ear disorders etc.

(e) In order to reduce noise pollution in metropolitan cities and urban areas of the country, the Government has notified the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 for the regulation and control of noise producing and generating sources.The noise standards for motor vehicles, air conditioners, refrigerators, gensets and certain types of construction equipments are prescribed under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.Noise emanating from industry is regulated by SPCBs/PCCs for States / UTs under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. As part of strategy to reduce noise pollution, the steps taken by the Central Pollution Control Boardinteralia include methodology for noise mapping in India, identifying hot spots and mitigation plan for control of noise pollution etc.apart from theNational Ambient Noise Monitoring Network in 07 metropolitan cities.

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