Noise Pollution and the Governing Laws

The word noise originated from the Latin word ‘nausea’ meaning seasickness. Noise is any unwanted sound that disrupts environmental equilibrium. Noise is measured in decibels. A major source of noise is the horns of motor vehicles, aircrafts, fire-crackers, sirens, loud speakers and machinery.

According to a survey conducted by the National Physical Laboratory, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata are amongst the noisiest cities in the world. Noise pollution has harmful effects on the environment, humans and animals. Some adverse effects of noise pollution on human health are:

• Hearing loss or hearing impairment
• Rise in blood pressure
• Cardiovascular health effects
• Increase in stress level
• Decrease in efficiency and concentration

Noise Pollution: The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000

The Constitution of India provides certain rights for controlling and reducing noise pollution. This includes:

• Right to Life: every person has a right to life and personal liberty and to live in a peaceful and quiet environment
• Right to Information: You have the right to know the standards and norms based on which the government issues license to an industry that is likely to affect the environment.
• Right to Religion: The Right to Religion does not include the right to carry out religious activities in a way that causes noise.

The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, has been laid down by the government to reduce environmental noise pollution. Certain standards, such as the ambient air quality standards, have been set by the government. The permissible levels of noise are different for different areas, such as industrial, commercial, residential and silence zone (area within the vicinity of hospitals, educational institutes or courts).