Environmental Noise Pollution Affects Delhi Airport

What is Noise Pollution?

Environmental noise pollution has a severe impact on peoples' health and overall well being. Typically, noise pollution refers to any sound that disrupts the environment such as:

• transportation sources comprising motor vehicles
• poor urban planning that paves the way for high noise areas in residential and industrial sectors
• recreational vehicles that make announcements using loudspeakers in rural areas

Environmental Noise Pollution and Health:

Environmental noise pollution affects the health of people and even animals. It is well established that the loss of hearing and the problem of insomnia in people can be attributed to extremely high levels of noise pollution. 

Other health effects include:

• Rise in blood pressure
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Measurable increase in stress
• Higher incidence of coronary heart disease
• Adverse psychological effects

Noise Pollution in Indian Airports

Sources of noise pollution may be in the environment but in places like airports, it is a known fact that noise pollution is bound to be higher than at any other places.

On March 3, 2010, the Delhi High Court directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to implement immediate measures to check the growing level of noise pollution near the Delhi airport. On the last date of hearing, the Delhi High Court had barred Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd (DIAL) from using two of the runways that are used at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport.

Noise Pollution Causes Insomnia in Patients, Disturbance to Doctors During Surgery

The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre had filed a petition, stating that the noise levels created by landing aircraft, when they fly at a low height of 200-300 feet, caused disturbance to the patients. As a result, many patients suffer from sleeplessness regularly. Further, the petition stated that their doctors, while performing surgery, have also complained about the enviromental noise pollution levels that disturbs them during the plane landings. The hospital also alleged that the noise created by these planes spanned 75 decibel to 94 decibel, which went beyond the stipulated standards laid down under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

During the first week of March 2010, DIAL requested the Delhi High Court to lift the earlier ban on runways 11 and 29 as29 and 11 as repair work is due to commence on runway 28. The legal counsel for DIAL further stated that if the two runways are not used, it will lead to massive chaos, considering how important it is for the country's capital to gear up for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

Delhi High Court on Noise Pollution: Residents Must not Suffer

However, the Delhi High Court issued no orders or directions to this effect and instead, asked both the DGCA and DIAL to file a detailed affidavit that states how they plan to control the environmental noise pollution at the airport. The petitioners were asked to file a rejoinder to the affidavit that was filed by the DGCA by March 10, 2010.

The division bench of the Delhi High Court comprised of the Acting Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Mukta Guptawas. They observed that immediate action is necessary so that the residents should not suffer.

The Additional Solicitor General A.S. Chandiok stated before the division bench that long and short-term steps are being planned to control noise pollution in the airport vicinity. He further stated that a separate airport zone may have to be created at the Delhi airport if the present trend continues. This move will help to reduce the noise level as prevalent in other countries.

Interestingly, India ranks 123rd in pollution control, according to the 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI).