CHENNAI: Navin Nishanth of Arcot Road in Vadapalani has been unable to sleep these days, as the metro rail construction work in the area that goes through the night keeps him awake. In other places, construction work, traffic and use of loudspeakers have robbed residents of their sleep, and peace.
“It feels like someone is banging me on the head when these activities are going on,” said Navin.
Several residents complain of construction work in private plots leading to noise pollution, especially at night. “Also, street vendors have resorted to cone loudspeakers to sell their wares. Many elderly people and sick patients in our area suffer from the incessant noise,” said D Balaji, vice-president of the Kasturba Nagar (South) Residents Welfare Association in Adyar.
Noise pollution has always been severe in Chennai, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifying it as the worst affected among the metropolitan cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai, in its latest annual report published in 2021.
Chennai registered a maximum of 83.6dB (decibels) last year against the 40dB to 75dB limit prescribed by the CPCB. “Noise pollution has become insurmountable in the city because of lack of awareness and enforcement of the relevant rules,” said M Vetriselvan, an environmental advocate and member of Poovulagin Nanbargal, an NGO working in the field.
“The local police are the enforcement authorities in residential, commercial and silence zones. Silence zones refer to areas around hospitals, educational institutions and courts. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) enforces the rules in industrial areas,” said M Vasudevan, the TNPCB joint chief environmental engineer.
The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 say that no sound-emitting equipment or source can operate at night exceeding the prescribed CPCB limit. But till today many construction activities happen after darkness.
Also, honking is prohibited in silent zones during the entire day and in residential zones after 10pm. Police can take suo motu action or act on complaints. In 2020, the CPCB proposed fines from 1,000 to 1 lakh for violations. “But police do not have the bandwidth and equipment to constantly keep tabs on exceeding noise,” said Vetriselvan.
Besides, residents affected by noise pollution are not aware of whom they should complain to, slowing enforcement of the rules. “With more urbanisation in the city, there will be more construction activities and infrastructure development, which will lead to more noise pollution,” said Vetriselvan.