Noise Pollution—A ‘Silent’ Crisis That Is Constantly Taking Its Toll

Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya, renowned doctor

In 2012, I got the opportunity to study vaccinology at the prestigious Pasteur Institute in France. I had developed good relations with the course directors there. When he visited India a few years later, I invited him for dinner at a well-known ‘fine dining’ restaurant. Everything was in order – the food, the ambiance, the service – but one thing made the whole experience uncomfortable: the noise.

My guests were feeling uncomfortable in talking. That very day I realized that we have become so accustomed to the noise around us that we do not even notice its problem. Today, noise in Indian cities is not just a noisy background but has become a permanent reality. Horns of vehicles on the roads, sounds of continuous construction work and uncontrolled noise levels in public places – all these together are creating an environment which is gradually affecting our health.

Indian cities are counted among the noisiest cities in the world. The average noise level in Delhi has reached around 75 decibels, while the World Health Organization considers a limit of 55 decibels as safe during the day. The situation is no different in metros like Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru – noise levels in most areas range between 65 to 75 decibels and reach 90 to 100 decibels during peak hours.

What is worrying is that we talk about seasonal challenges – such as air pollution in winter, water crisis and heat waves in summer, or cold waves in winter – but noise pollution – which persists throughout the year – receives less attention. Whereas prolonged exposure to noise above 70 decibels increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

With every 10 decibel increase, cardiovascular risk can increase by about 8 percent. Learning ability in children is affected, complications increase in pregnant women and sleep problems become common in the elderly. More than 6 crore people in India are suffering from hearing problem and noise pollution is becoming a major reason for this.

The impact of noise is not limited to health, it also affects our productivity, mental balance and social behavior. A person exposed to constant noise is more irritable, tired, and less able to concentrate. In such a situation, the overall efficiency of the society also gets affected. Well, we have no shortage of rules.

Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules were made under the Environment Protection Act 1986. But the problem is not about the rules, but about following them. Unnecessary honking on the roads, use of DJs or loudspeakers till late night and violation of deadlines at construction sites – all these have become common. Strict adherence to laws will have to be ensured. Increasing awareness is equally important.

The message needs to be sent across schools and colleges that honking is not a compulsion, it is a habit – and it can be changed. Change is also necessary in urban planning. Noise barriers, green corridors and promotion of EVs can be helpful in this direction. Just as we regularly monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI), real-time monitoring of noise levels should also be introduced. Because noise pollution is a silent crisis – one that affects us gradually.

(These are the author’s own views)

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