Hyderabad: Concerns over rising decibel levels in city

Hyderabad: Noise pollution is one of the biggest concerns in the modern cities, but the risk is often overlooked despite it being linked to many health issues. According to data provided by the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB), noise levels recorded in different parts of the city have been constantly above the national standard levels prescribed for residential, commercial, industrial and sensitive zones.

There are around 11 real-time noise monitoring stations in the city of pearls. While Abids, JNTU, Paradise and RC Puram come under the commercial zone, Jubilee Hills and Tarnaka are residential areas. Jeedimetla, Gaddapotha and Sanathnagar lie under the industrial area, and the Zoo Park and Gachibowli come under the sensitive area. Unfortunately, in the city, the noise pollution levels in most of these stations have been remaining consistently above the permissible limits for the past few years.

Going by the data procured by the TSPCB, the noisiest areas in the city are commercial areas, with RC Puram and Abids recording the highest noise pollution levels. According to the data till October 2020, the noise level in the commercial areas stands at around 79 db during the day and around 74 db during the night, against the permissible limit of 65 db in the day and 55 db in the night. Whereas, Industrial areas are constant readings from 64db to 68 db in Sanathnagar and Jeedimetla.

The heavy traffic flow and traffic snarls during peak hours has been the main cause for honking and sound pollution in developing cities like Hyderabad.

During the same month previous year, it was 60 db during the day and 58 db in the night. This is as against the permissible limit of 50 db in the day and 40 db in the night, which constantly increases for five years.

Speaking on the rising noise concerns in the city, a senior official from the PCB said, "Noise levels in the city is increasing proportionately to the number of vehicles getting added on the road. Moreover, due to social distancing norms the denizens are preferring to travel on their own vehicle which is also a cause for slight increase in noise pollution. As the density of population and vehicles increases, we might face more noise pollution due to over honking. However, PCB is trying to put its efforts to control the rising noise pollution by installing the noise limiting devices across the city and the decision is yet to be taken on the same." 

Noise levels for October