Civic body to launch a pilot project in sensitive locations within a month.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to launch a pilot project to map the noise levels at sensitive areas of the city within a month.
“We are going to launch a pilot project in some noise-sensitive areas like schools and hospitals to see how effective it is. Then we’ll make up our minds whether to do it for the entire city,” municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar said.
A noise map is a graphic representation of the sound level distribution existing in a given region for a defined period.
A comprehensive noise map is desperately needed to combat the scourge of noise pollution in Mumbai. “Controlling noise in a city like Mumbai without a noise map is almost comparable to controlling land use without a geographical map. The noise mapping project would also serve as a strategic planning tool to keep noise levels from proposed new infrastructure projects within health-based statutory limits,” said activist Sumaira Abdulali.
According to Abdulali, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is involved in a partial noise mapping of the city. However, she says, this will not cover crucial geographic and other requirements for comprehensive noise mapping in Mumbai. It will also not cover the noise during festivals like Navratri, Eid, Diwali and Christmas. The noise from other proposed infrastructure projects such as the Trans Harbour Sea Link, the MUIP will not be covered under it.
When contacted, MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawathkar said the MMRDA is not responsible for the noise mapping of the entire city as the development plans are handled by the relevant municipal corporations. “We have put up a noise barrier in Bandra Kurla Complex and have found that it reduced the noise by 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night,” Kawathkar said. He also mentioned that the MMRDA plans to put up noise barriers near four flyovers, including Lalbaug, Bharatmata and Sion Hospital.
But this is not a proper solution to the noise problem, says Pankaj Joshi, executive director of urban design at UDRI. “Arbitrarily placing a noise barrier near a flyover does not tackle the overall problem. You need to have proper noise apping done to figure out the source of noise, how far it will travel, weather conditions and then plan based on these parameters,” he said.
“Noise mapping is an interactive software technology that takes into account many parameters to predict how the noise levels in the area will be affected by future developments and changes in infrastructure,” said Abdulali.
She also mentions that factors like construction noise, traffic noise as well as noise from industries should be taken into account.
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