Research Journal of Chemical Sciences _____________________________________________ ISSN 2231-606XVol. 3(12), 71-75, December (2013) Res. J. Chem. Sci. International Science Congress Association 71 Study of Noise Pollution Levels during a Hindu Festival in Dhar Town, MP, India Ningwal Uday Singh and Shinde Deepak Department of Zoology, Govt. Post Graduate College, Dhar – 454001, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 4th November 2013, revised 22nd November 2013, accepted 18th December 2013 AbstractThe present paper deals with monitoring of Noise Pollution at different places of Dhar town during Navratri festival. During this festival Garba dance (one of the most popular folk dances in India) is organized by local public at various places of the town. During the present study the noise levels were measured with the help of sound level meter at five different locations during Navratri festival. It was clear from our study that the noise levels are extremely elevated and are found to be above the prescribed limits of CPCB even in the silent zones. The main sources of noise pollution are loud speakers, powerful sound systems, orchestra, drums etc. Major effects of noise pollution include interference with communication, sleeplessness, and reduced efficiency. Keywords: Noise pollution, sound level, loudspeaker, Navratri, festival. Introduction Noise is an unwanted sound that may cause some psychological and physical stress to human beings exposed to it. It is also considered as an environmental stressor and nuisance. Noise pollution has become an inevitable part of modern civilization. It is a fact that sound intensity above 80dB level is harmful to individual belonging to all ages. Noise is present in every human activity, and when assessing its impact on human well-being it is usually classified either as occupational noise, or as environmental noise, which includes noise in all other settings, whether at the community, residential or domestic level e.g. traffic, playgrounds, sports, music. Noise can adversely affect general health and well being in the same manner as chronic stress. Noise pollution is a result of human misbehaviors all over the world. Celebration of different festivals creates minimum noise levels which gives happiness and avoid adverse effects on human health. Celebration of the festivals in India is becoming more and more non-eco friendly. Use of powerful sound systems, orchestra etc along with disturbing loud speakers have become regular features of the society and adversely affect human as well as social health. This kind of noise pollution is beyond tolerable limits which disturbs social and human life. It has become a serious threat to the quality of the environment. At present we are facing serious environmental problems in the form of noise pollution. Noise pollution can be minimized with the help of individual control. Optimum sound is pleasant to human ear, but large intensity sounds are dangerous to health and they are major contributors to noise pollution. Environmental protection act 1986 is enforced on 19 Nov 1986 to control the noise pollution. The Central Pollution Control Board constituted a Committee on Noise Pollution Control. The Committee recommended noise standards for ambient air and for automobiles, domestic appliances and construction equipments, which were later notified in Environment (Protection) Rules, 19865,6. The Noise pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 is an amendment made by Govt. of India in the year 2010. (Rule 3 (1) and 4 (1)) Ambient Air Quality Standards in respect of Noise5,6. Material and Methods Study Area: Dhar district is situated between the parallels of 221’14” and 239’49” North and the meridians of 4428’27” and 7542’43” East above 1908 feet sea level. The area of Dhar town is 49 sq. kms with the population of 75374. The present study was conducted during Navratri festival between th and 13th Oct 2013. The ambient noise levels were monitored and recorded at 05 different selected locations of the town with the help of Sound Level Meter (SLM-4005) between 9.00 pm and 12.00 pm. The instrument used in the range of 30 – 180 dB (A). The instrument was set at a distance of 100 meters from the study areas during the study. Ambient sound levels were compared with that of the standards prescribed in environmental protection act, 1986 and standards of CPCB. Research Journal of Chemical Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2231-606XVol. 3(12), 71-75, December (2013) Res. J. Chem. Sci. International Science Congress Association 72 Figure-1 Maps showing location of Dhar District in M.P., India Research Journal of Chemical Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2231-606XVol. 3(12), 71-75, December (2013) Res. J. Chem. Sci. International Science Congress Association 73 Results and Discussion The noise levels recorded at different locations in Dhar town during the study period are shown in table 2 to 4. Table 5 and figure 2 show location wise average values of noise levels. The results obtained from the study clearly indicate that noise levels in all the five localities under study during Navratri festival are much higher than that of the prescribed standard limits of CPCB, i.e. 45 dB(A) for residential area during night hours5, 6. It is similar to the values documented by some authors studied noise Pollution during Deepawali Festival in Kolhapur City of Maharashtra6-10. Sources, effects and control of noise Pollution and its Levels in different cities of India has also been studied by some scientists11. Table-1 Noise standards for Ambient Noise level Area code Category of area Limits in dB (A) Leg Day time Night time (6.00AM to 9.00PM) (9.00PM to 6.00AM) A Industrial 75 70 B Commercial 65 55 C Residential 55 45 D Sensitive *(silence zone) 50 40 dB(A) Leq denotes the time weighted average of the level of sound in decibels on scale A which is relatable to human hearing5, 6. * Silence zone is referred as areas up to 100 meters around such premises as hospitals, educational institutions and courts. The Silence zones are to be declared by the Competent Authority. Use of vehicular horns, loudspeakers and bursting of crackers shall be banned in these zones5, 6. Table-2 Showing the noise level status at different locations in Dhar town between 9.00 and 10.00 pm Date S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 05/10/2013 101 98 86 80 80 06/10/2013 100 101 81 78 75 07/10/2013 102 96 79 82 78 08/10/2013 106 100 85 80 79 09/10/2013 107 96 84 81 80 10/10/2013 105 96 84 82 76 11/10/2013 108 98 82 80 78 12/10/2013 108 100 80 82 81 13/10/2013 111 101 82 84 78 Mean value 105.33 98.44 82.55 81.00 78.33 *Parameter values are in dB (A) Leg. Table-3 Showing the noise level status at different locations in Dhar town between 10.00 and 11.00 pm Date S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 05/10/2013 111 108 95 90 89 06/10/2013 109 110 91 89 80 07/10/2013 113 107 89 92 87 08/10/2013 115 109 94 92 88 09/10/2013 114 108 93 93 88 10/10/2013 111 107 92 94 86 11/10/2013 116 109 92 92 86 12/10/2013 113 108 90 92 90 13/10/2013 118 110 94 95 88 Mean value 113.33 108.44 92.22 92.11 86.88 *Parameter values are in dB (A) Leg. Research Journal of Chemical Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2231-606XVol. 3(12), 71-75, December (2013) Res. J. Chem. Sci. International Science Congress Association 74 Table-4 Showing the noise level status at different locations in Dhar town between 11.00 and 12.00 pm Date S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 05/10/2013 118 115 102 99 95 06/10/2013 117 117 100 101 85 07/10/2013 120 114 102 102 95 08/10/2013 121 116 105 100 96 09/10/2013 120 115 105 103 95 10/10/2013 119 114 102 104 93 11/10/2013 121 116 103 102 95 12/10/2013 120 115 101 104 97 13/10/2013 125 117 103 105 99 Mean value 120.1 115.4 102.5 102.2 94.4 *Parameter values are in dB (A) Leg. Table-5 Showing locality wise and period wise average noise intensity values S. No. Locations under study area Category of area Average Noise intensity dB (A) value during 9.00-10.00 pm Average Noise intensity dB (A) value during 10.00-11.00 pm Average Noise intensity dB (A) value during 11.00-12.00 pm 1 Kalika Temple campus (LC–1) Commercial 105.33 113.33 120.11 2 Pati. School campus (LC–2) Sensitive 98.44 108.44 115.44 3 Bus stand area (LC–3) Commercial 82 92.22 102.56 4 Distt. Hospital area (LC–4) Sensitive (silence) 81 92.11 102.22 5 Hatwada chouk area (LC–5) Commercial 78.33 86.89 94.44 LC-1Deviji TemplecampusLC-2Pati. SchoolcampusLC-3Bus standareaLC-4Distt.Hospital areaLC-5Hatwadachouk area Average value during 9.00-10.00 pmAverage value during 10.00-11.00 pmAverage value during 11.00-12.00 pm 20406080100120140LocationsAverage values in dB Average value during 9.00-10.00 pm Average value during 10.00-11.00 pm Average value during 11.00-12.00 pmFigure-2 Figure showing average values of noise status at five selected locations in Dhar town during observation period Research Journal of Chemical Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2231-606XVol. 3(12), 71-75, December (2013) Res. J. Chem. Sci. International Science Congress Association 75 The minimum value recorded was 75 dB at LC-5 location between 9.00 and 10.00 pm on 6th Oct 13 because It was the first day of the festival and more over Garba dance was not being performed in this locality. The maximum value recorded was 125 dB at LC-1 location during 11.00 and 12.00 pm on 13thOct 13 as it was the last day of the festival and the Garba dance which was being performed in this area was at the pick along with the annual fair organized by local Municipal Corporation. Both the maximum and minimum values are much more higher than that of the prescribed limits6. The most striking feature of the study is the fact that the average noise intensity even in district hospital area (LC-4) which comes under sensitive / silence area as per CPCB, is much higher than that of the prescribed limits. This is something very disturbing and disappointing that people become over sensitive in the name religious festivals without taking care of their own environment. Noise pollution has become an environmental problem in Dhar and also in other parts of India during religious festivals. This can cause negative impact on public health and welfare. Noise interferes in complex task performance, modifies social behaviour and causes annoyance12. Conclusion Considering the above aspects, we can conclude that noise dominates the spectrum of environmental noise. The people living in noisy area especially above 70 dB(A) should take precaution in order to avoid noise induced hearing loss and other problems. Celebration of festivals should be eco friendly. Unlimited use of powerful sound systems should be controlled. Public education appears to be the best method as suggested by the respondents. However, government and NGOs can play a significant role in this process. References 1.Concha-Barrientos M. Campbell-Lendrum D. and Steenland K., Occupational Noise, Assessing the Burden of Disease from Work- Related Hearing Impairment at National and Local Levels. 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