Lok Sabha Question No. 2723 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-15
Subject: Noise Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KIRRON KHER, RABINDRA KUMAR JENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 2723

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2015

## Noise Pollution

## 2723.   SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

## SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the noise levels in metro cities are above the prescribed limits including Delhi;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of the guidelines issued by the Government to check noise pollution;
- (d) the  mechanism  put  in  place  by  the  Government  to  monitor  noise  pollution  in  metro cities effectively and the success achieved as compared to the previous year; and
- (e) the details of awareness campaigns organized regarding noise pollution in the current year?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b) Ambient  noise  levels  are  monitored  in  nine  metro  cities,  namely  Delhi, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Lucknow on 24x7 basis at 70 locations under National Ambient Noise Monitoring Programme (NANMP). The data is collated,  compiled  and processed  by  CPCB.    The  analysis  of  data  reveals  that noise  levels  are  within  prescribed  norms  at  a  few  locations,  such  as,  East  Arjun  Nagar  in Delhi,  Jeedimetla  in  Hyderabad,  Gole  Park  and  Pollution  Control  Office  in  Kolkata,  etc. However, noise levels are exceeded at a majority of stations.  High levels of noise may be attributed to vehicular traffic, honking,  railways, metro  trains, aeroplanes, industries, generators, construction  activities,  use  of  public  address  systems,  bursting  of  fire  crackers, etc.

(c) Noise  emanating  from  industry  is  regulated  by  the  State  Pollution  Control  Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  for  UTs  under  the  Air  (Prevention  and Control of  Pollution)  Act,  1981.    The  noise  standards  for  motor  vehicles,  air  conditioners, refrigerators,  gensets  and  certain  types  of  construction  equipments  are  prescribed  under Schedule-I  and  Schedule-VI,  as  applicable  of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Rules,  1986. Compliance of  noise  norms  for  gensets,  at  manufacturing  stage,  is  ensured  by  the  Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).  Compliance of noise norms for horns and vehicles is done by  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and  Highways  under  the  Motor  Vehicle  Act,  1988  and Rules notified thereunder.

- (d) NANMP was established during 2010-11 by establishing 35 stations in 7 metro cities. 35  stations  have  been  added  during  2014-15  while  bringing  two  more  metro  cities  in  the network.  As on date, 70 stations (24x7 basis) are functioning in 9 metro cities.
- (e) Advertisements  have  been  published  by  CPCB  and  various  SPCBs  in  newspapers about ill effects of crackers during Deepawali festival-2015.  Anti-cracker camping has been undertaken by Government of NCT of Delhi through resident welfare associations and ecoclubs in various schools and colleges of Delhi.

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