Noise Pollution is Rising but Policy is Falling Silent

Syllabus :GS3/Environment 

In News

• Urban noise pollution in Indian cities has become a neglected public health crisis, with decibel levels frequently exceeding permissible limits, especially near sensitive areas like schools and hospitals. 

Sources of Urban Noise

• Traffic Congestion: Honking, engine noise, and road rage contribute significantly.
• Construction: Late-night drilling, crane operations, and pile driving persist despite restrictions.
• Public Events: Loudspeakers at religious and political gatherings often violate norms.
  • Firecrackers during festivals and rallies breach permissible limits.
•  Diesel Generators are used during power outages, these emit high decibel levels.

 Impact on Health and Environment

• It is Linked to hypertension, sleep disorders, hearing loss, and cardiovascular stress.
• Chronic exposure leads to anxiety, fatigue, and reduced cognitive performance.
• Children and Elderly are Particularly vulnerable to developmental and psychological disruptions.
• It alters animal behavior, breeding patterns, and habitat use in urban green zones.

Legal and Policy Framework

• According to the World Health Organization, safe limits in silent zones are 50 dB(A) by day and 40 dB(A) by night. 
• Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 provides zoning-based limits and enforcement mechanisms.
• In 2011, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) launched the National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network (NANMN), which was envisioned as a real-time data platform.
• In 2024, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that excessive noise violates the fundamental right to life and dignity.
  • Article 21 guarantees the right to life with dignity, encompassing mental and environmental well-being.
  •  Article 48A mandates proactive environmental protection.

Conclusion and Way Forward 

• Ambient Noise Levels  Across cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai routinely exceed permissible limits.
• Therefore , India must strengthen enforcement by empowering pollution control boards with real-time data and legal authority.
• There is a need to  reform urban planning to create buffers between noisy and sensitive areas and  launch public awareness campaigns about health risks and legal penalties
• AI and IoT can be leveraged  for smart noise monitoring, and ensure coordinated action among municipal bodies, traffic police, and environmental regulators through a unified framework.

Source :TH