Statutory Norms To Control Noise Pollution

The government has laid down statutory norms to regulate and control noise levels to prevent their adverse effects on human health and the psychological well being of the people. The rules titled Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, has come in force from February 14.

Under the new regulation, different areas and zones are to be indentified as industrial, commercial, residential or silence areas and anyone exceeding the specified noise level would be liable for action.

In industrial areas, the noise level limit during the day time ( 6 am _10 pm ) is 75 decibels and during night time ( 10 pm_ 6 am) 70 decibels.

Similarly, for the commercial areas the day time limit is 65 decibels and night time limit is 55 decibels. In the case of residential areas, the litmus are respectively 55 and 45 decibels and for the silence zones, it is 50 and 40 decibels.

The rules restrict the use of loud speakers as also a public address system. These cannot be used except with the written permission of the authorities.

But these `shall' not be used at night ( between 10 pm and 6 am) except in closed premises for communication within.