CPCB lists Mumbai as most noisy city, Lucknow and Hyderabad follow
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in its latest report, gave Mumbai the dubious distinction of being the noisiest city in India. Lucknow and Hyderabad were placed 2nd and 3rd on the list. National capital Delhi was 4th, mostly because of its roadside plantations and relatively higher green cover. The report showed that the maximum noise came from vehicles, airplanes and industrial and construction activities.
Permissible level of noise in India
The prescribed level of noise levels in India have been capped at 55 decibels (dB) during day and 45 dB during the night.
ITO, Bandra more noisy than noisiest cities of the world
The CPCB's data gathered from 35 noise monitoring systems installed in 9 metro cities revealed that "ITO in Delhi and Bandra in Mumbai are nosier than the busiest parts of London, New York and Beijing."
Mumbai's noise problems
Environmentalist and founder of NGO Awaaz Foundation- Sumaira Abdulali said Mumbai was a geographically cramped city and also India's financial capital. This meant there were more people here, thereby compounding its noise problems. She added that the city needed to develop an effective action plan for reducing noise pollution and invest in new infrastructure in urban areas that curbed the noise.
Some of Mumbai's loudest regions
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board in 2015 reported noise levels at 112.6dB in Juhu Beach, 107.4dB in Girgaon Chowpatty and 96.0dB in Kandivali's Thakur Village. The highest level of noise considered fit for exposure to the human ear is 70dB.
CPCB warns of dire health risks of noise pollution
The country's pollution watchdog- CPCB said the level of noise pollution in India was far beyond permissible limits and could cause health problems. It said that Mumbai noise levels can cause aggression, hypertension, hearing loss, tinnitus and sleep disturbance. CPCB said that the reason for coming out with this report was to help the government set-up standards and formulate policy for controlling noise pollution.
How's the world doing- noise wise?
After Mumbai, Tokyo- the most populous city in the world is the second noisiest. The city's noise is mostly a result of the construction sites, loudspeakers and commercial activities. New York City is the most densely populated city in North America and the third noisiest city in the world. Cairo is the largest and noisiest city in Africa and Middle East.
