Monday, March 14, 2011

Noise Regulations

The Central Government has notified The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 which have been amended in January, 2010. The said Rules require the State/UT Administration to designate an ‘Authority’ responsible for maintaining the ambient noise standards in respective States/UTs. The designated ‘Authority’ has to be an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The Central/State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees have been carrying out noise monitoring in urban areas, mainly during festivals such as Deepawali. As per available data, the laid down noise norms for respective zones (Industrial, Commercial, Residential and Silence) are exceeded at many locations. However, a definite trend cannot be ascertained since data is available only for a limited period.

The Government is implementing the provisions of The Factories Act, 1948, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 to prevent and control noise pollution. The notified noise standards at manufacturing stage for generator sets, motor vehicles, select domestic appliances and fire crackers are implemented by the concerned authorities. The blowing of horns, bursting of sound emitting firecrackers, operation of sound emitting construction equipments, playing of bands, etc. have been restricted during night time (10.00 pm to 06.00 am) under the Noise Rules, 2000.

The Central Government has established a National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network in seven cities, namely, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, to begin with, for systematic monitoring of ambient noise on 24 X 7 basis and for creation of baseline data. This Network is being managed by the Central Pollution Control Board.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh, in a written reply to a question by Shri Hamdullah Sayeed , Shri E.G. Sugavanam & Dr. Bhola Singh in Lok Sabha today

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