Norms proposed to monitor aircraft noise pollution

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Mumbai, Aug 21: Henceforth, the civil aviation ministry, directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other concerned agencies would have to strictly follow the proper, uniform procedure for monitoring ambient noise level caused by aircraft. This has been necessitated following rapidly increasing air traffic from 126 airports (11 international, 89 domestic and 26 civil enclaves at defence airfields) and further addition due to upcoming new airports and the modernisation/upgradation of existing ones.

The Centre has proposed noise monitoring for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in permanent monitoring stations with a provision of penalty for violators. Even day-night average sound levels (DNL) of 65 dBA (decibel) would be used as a guideline for the existing airports and new airports for assessing noise impact due to aircraft on residents and also for land use planning.

The state-run Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which comes under the jurisdiction of the ministry of environment and forests, has prepared a background paper on "requirement and procedure for monitoring ambient noise level due to aircraft", and it has sought suggestions from concerned parties. "The objective is to specify suitable requirements and procedures for airport authorities to carry out monitoring of ambient nose levels around airports due to aircraft. A proper database is a must for planning and executing suitable noise control programme for airports in the country. The uniform procedure has to be compatible with the international norms," informed sources told FE.

CPCB said that the civil aircraft movements in major airports has increased manifold. CPCB's compilation shows that at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the civil aircraft movement increased to 2,01,780 in 2006-07 from 1,25,551 in 2002-03, followed by Delhi from 93,463 to 1,85,174, Chennai from 44,353 to 99,775, Bangalore from 46,975 in 2003-04 to 94,398, Kolkata from 32,359 to 65,687 and Hyderabad from 28,077 in 2003-04 to 68,175.