Indian Express 18.01.2010
Noise monitors all over city by Sept
By September, Mumbai, along with six other cities, is scheduled to get a noise monitoring network. The Centre will install 10 stations across the city and record decibel levels on a regular and systematic basis. This is part of the latest amendments to the Noise Pollution (regulation and control) Rules, 2000, which the Ministry of Environment and Forest released on January 11.
A roadmap has been prepared for the proposed National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network and the stations would be set up on a pilot basis in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Lucknow in seven months. The project is aimed at more effective noise control.
Mahesh Pathak, member secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, said, “Mumbai has already proposed noise monitoring stations at four spots, Mulund, Bandra, Vashi and Airoli, and is still waiting for the protocol to be finalised. Along with NGO Awaaz we are already monitoring noise during festivals; equipment and facilities are in place.”
Sumaira Abdualali of NGO Awaaz, said, “In 2003, we started monitoring noise during festival times along with help from the pollution control board. The monitoring stations will ensure a more detailed understanding of noise levels.”
The MoEF has proposed that once the noise monitoring networks become functional, it can later be extended to 18 more cities, with five stations each, in 2011.
