Archaic Pollution Laws in India — Part 1

Sound pollution is a growing nuisance, especially in cities. Yes — but what are the standards you are measuring against!

This is a recent article on those lines: https://www.hindutamil.in/.../628757-sound-pollution.html

The article says:

“குடியிருப்புப் பகுதிகளில் அதிகபட்ச இரைச்சல் பகல் நேரங்களில் 65 டெசிபலையும், இரவு நேரங்களில் 55 டெசிபலையும் தாண்டக்கூடாது என மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய விதிமுறை கூறுகிறது.”

Basically, in residential areas, the sound levels should not exceed 65 dB during the day and 55 dB at night.

Just to give a comparative analysis:

(1) An average vacuum cleaner at home generates 70–85 dB of sound during its operation

(2) A lawnmower can generate up to 95 dB of sound while running

(3) Flushing a toilet or an incoming telephone call generates about 80 dB of sound!

(4) 80–90 dB of sound comes from a food mixer or processor when it’s in use

(5) Over 80 DB of sound is generated even in a noisy restaurant

(6) A baby crying loud produces about 110 dB of sound level

So basically, as per TNPCB — TamilNadu Pollution Control Board, if you operate a vacuum cleaner or flush a toilet in your home or use a mixer in the kitchen or run a restaurant in a residential place, you can be booked for noise pollution. A case can be registered on you because your baby has been crying out loud!

• What kind of silly baselines are we working with?
• When was this law formed and has it been revised since?
• If not, when will TNPCB revise this baseline?

More questions pop-up as we ponder upon yet another government agency’s inefficient operations.