State Pollution Control Board panel caps honking, retains ban on multitone horns.
A committee set up by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) this month for specifying how much sound horns and sirens used in vehicles should produce, has recommended that it be kept below 85 decibels. The committee comprises MPCB officials, the transport commissioner, doctors and experts from institutions like the IIT and the Awaaz Foundation.
The committee was formed after the National Green Tribunal (NGT), in October last, directed the MPCB to monitor multitone horns and sirens following a petition filed in the NGT.
As per the decisions taken by the committee with public health in mind, multitone horns will continue to remain banned; and all other horns and sirens will be regulated under 85 decibels to ensure adequate audibility.
“We found that the loudest type of horns was associated with foreign brands that were in excess of 100 dB. (Audi has gone on record stating that the company made especially strong horns for the Indian market). Along with sirens, these excessively-loud horns produce a continuous background noise that is harmful not just to everyone in the vicinity, but even to the passengers in the car or ambulance,” said Sumaira Abdulali of the Awaaz Foundation.
A study by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had found Mumbai to be the noisiest city in the country. NGOs like Awaaz Foundation have been warning people about the ill-effects of prolonged exposure to noise on their health. Reports have shown that noise limits often touched 100dB or more at various traffic junctions due to unnecessary honking. Even silence zones where hospitals are situated are not spared.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the safe limit is 85dB, above which people can face irreversible noise induced hearing loss (NHIL). “NHIL, headaches, irritability and high blood pressure are some of the short and long term effects of perpetual noise above 85dB,” warned Dr Mohan Jagde, head, ENT department, JJ Hospital, who is a member of the MPCB committee.
“The recommendations have been sent to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for approval. Once we get it, we will file an affidavit and implement the recommendations,” said D C Devle, a senior MPCB official.
Noise levels and its health effects
30dB: Inside the bedroom can cause sleep deprivation
35dB: Inside the classroom can cause disturbance to communication and concentration
55dB: Outdoors cause annoyance
70dB: In industrial, commercial or traffic areas can cause even gradual hearing impairment
85dB: In occupational environment, can cause gradual hearing impairment
100dB: In ceremonies and entertainment can cause irreversible hearing impairment
120dB: Can cause pain
140dB: Sudden impact could burst your ear drum
— From the WHO report, ‘Burden of disease from environmental noise’ and a noise report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
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