Noise Pollution: Ambient Air Quality Standards

In the recent times, noise pollution has become a serious health hazard to all living beings, be it humans or animals. The Government of India has developed Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, to overcome the issue of noise pollution. The rules include setting up the Ambient Air Quality Standards, which specifies different permissible levels of sound (measured in dB (A) Leq*) for different areas:

While the day time ranges from 6.00 a.m. to 10 p.m., the night time is between 10 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. Silence zone is an area that is within the vicinity of 100 meters of a hospital, court or an educational institution.

Noise Pollution: Restrictions and Consequences of Violations and Complaints

As per the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, the following activities in a silence zone amounts to violation of the rules:

• Playing loud music or the use of sound amplifier.
• Beating drums, blowing horns or trumpets, causing sound by any other instrument or any similar sound.
• Exhibition of any mimetic, musical or other performance exceeding the permissible levels

Any discomfort caused by exceeding levels of noise can be reported to the authorities, who shall take action against the offender based on the provisions of noise pollution rules and laws.

In case the concerned authority is satisfied by the reports or other relevant information collected by a police officer, the violator can be prohibited from persisting the activity, which include noise originating from a vocal instrument or sound caused by loud speakers.