Earplugs for the city?

Earplugs for the city?
DH News Service,Bangalore:
Bangalore is noisy! A study reveals that the noise intensity at commercial, residential, industrial and even silent areas are well above the decibel limit prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

This study was presented at a noise pollution workshop conducted by M. S. Ramaiah Medical College- Department of Community Medicine and Centre for Sustainable Development on Saturday.

The pilot study carried out a year ago by the Centre for Sustainable Development for the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation recorded the decibel levels for one week at various hours in Bangalore East Zone. Twelve locations were selected across the zone -four locations each in residential and commercial areas, two locations each in silent areas and industrial areas. A questionnaire survey of the population residing near the noise monitoring location was carried out to understand their concerns and problems

Residential areas had decibel levels far exceeding the CPCB limits. JC Nagar was found to have lowest noise levels and Indiranagar was found to have highest noise levels compared to the rest of the monitored residential areas.

The noise levels at the monitored commercial areas also showed noise levels above CPCB limits. Koramangala had the highest noise levels and Vasanthanagar had the lowest noise levels when compared to the other monitored commercial areas.

The standards prescribed by the CPCB for a silent zone during the day time is 50dB, but the noise levels in the monitored location, showed that they are well above the limit . The reason? Large traffic fleet including buses, autos and two wheelers.

Decibel levels at industrial areas at Hebbal Industrial and C V Raman Nagar were also beyond limits.