ASSESSMENT OF AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS IN ROHINI AREA, NEW DELHI

Abstract

Ambient noise is a composite of sounds from many sources. The ambient noise level is increasing day by day in urban estates due to fast growth of urbanization and rapid change in life style of people. Acoustic noise beyond a certain limit is harmful. Noise is usually unwanted sound pollutant which produces undesirable physiological and psychological effects in an individual, by interfering with one’s social activities like work, rest, recreation, sleep etc. The fact that a regulation to abate noise is in force should remove all doubts about the damaging aspect of noise pollution. The Delhi cities are being more polluted and the main thrust is towards the estimation of level of noise pollution in these cities. The main objective for estimation of noise level in Rohini area are given below. - Noise measurement at various locations in different designated zone of urban area. - Noise level prediction using CRTN noise prediction model in near field of urban road way. - Comparative analysis of measured and predicted noise level along with prescribed standards. Measurement of noise levels were carried out in 7 location at Rohini area in Delhi, viz. Commercial, Industrial, Residential and Silence zones. Based on the data of the measured equivalent noise levels in the residential, commercial, industrial, and silence zones of the 7 location, it can be stated that during day time noise levels from 40 to 60 dB(A) prevail in residential areas away from traffic roads, noise levels from 60 – 80 dB(A) prevail in residential areas close to traffic roads and in commercial areas, noise level from 70 – 90 dB(A) exits at the traffic junctions , and noise level from 80 - 105 dB(A) exists in areas with heavy traffic . Even the silent zones are observed to be quite noisy when measured noise level are compared with the prescribed standard provided by the CPCB.