Activist bats for noise mapping across Mumbai, writes to civic chief

Concerned over rising decibel levels in the city, an anti-noise pollution activist has written the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, requesting for a comprehensive mapping system that can provide a more informed insight with respect to the noise levels within the city.

"It is clear from the pilot studies on noise mapping already conducted by the BMC that environmental concerns require to be built into land use planning. There is an urgent need to demarcate areas where recreational activities may safely take place and to build appropriate infrastructure to ensure that events generating high levels of noise pollution are appropriately zoned away from residential areas and Silence Zones such as hospitals." said Sumaira Abdulali.

The activist has written to BMC commissioner Sitaram Kunte to press for the cause.

Currently there are 10 stations that record information on the noise pollution in Mumbai. These centres are at High Court, Mumbadevi temple, Borivali National Park, Antop Hill, Shivaji Park, Dadar, Santacruz Airport, Goregaon (E), Ghatkopar (W) Charkop, Kandivali, and Chembur.

At all of these stations, the noise level is past the acceptable limits, with the Santacruz Airport and Shivaji Park recording the highest level in 2013. While the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has also demarcated over 2,000 silent zones around hospitals, educational institutions and courts, the efficacy of these zones is suspect with no way to measure the noise levels at these locations.

The Noise Pollution (Control & Regulations) Rules of 2000 has set various sound limits for different areas. For instance, it is 75 dB and 70 dB in industrial area for day and night respectively. Similarly, for residential areas, the limits are 55 dB and 45 dB, while the numbers are 50 dB (day) and 40 dB (night) for Silence Zones.