Dangerous decibel: Shahdara worst at 91%, Dwarka, Lajpat Nagar follow

NEW DELHI: Shahdara was the noisiest location in Delhi, breaching the 60 db (A) mark for more than 91% of the time in the month of June. It was followed by Dwarka, Lajpat Nagar and Karol Bagh wherein a reading between 60 and 70 db(A) was recorded for more than 60% of the time, a report submitted by Delhi Pollution Control Committee to the National Green Tribunal states.

The report also informs the NGT that Delhi’s noise monitoring network has now increased to 26 stations, which will be used to cover all four categories – silence zones, residential zones, commercial zones and industrial zones.
Data analysed from all 26 locations in the month of June revealed that ambient noise levels at silence zones, residential zones and commercial zones exceeded the prescribed standards. Industrial zones, where the limit is set the highest, were the only zones in which the values were being adhered to, the report stated.
Among the locations recording the least amount of noise were Alipur, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Najafgarh and National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases at Aurobindo Marg, which recorded more than 30% of the monitored hours in June to be ranging between 40 and 50 dB (A). All locations were found to be getting impacted by vehicular noise as the primary source. However, inspections at each location will also be carried out to ascertain sources of noise pollution that may be specific to the area.
“Analysis of hourly data shows that the range varied from 40 db(A) to 70 db(A) in different land-use areas of Delhi. The short term data, compared with prescribed standards, shows that ambient noise levels exceed the prescribed standards in silence, residential and commercial zones. In industrial zones, the noise level meets the prescribed standards,” said the report.
“Though in general, it seems the primary source is vehicular noise. However, a survey of nearby areas of these stations will be undertaken for the identification of sources to develop a customised action plan for each location,” the report added.
Until last year, DPCC only had five noise monitors across the capital, which it admits was not adequately representing the four categories of land-use areas in Delhi. For further ground visits, DPCC said teams had already been formulated, while handheld devices would be used to identify problem locations.
“Handheld integrating-averaging sound meters have been provided to the inspecting teams to enable them to identify local sources of noise emission. Based on the reports by the inspecting teams, further action will be taken as a constant process,” said DPCC, adding that it now plans to analyse data every week and make it available to authorities for further action.