Urban Noise Pollution in India: A Crisis of Governance, Health, and Environment
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Environment (Pollution); Indian Polity and Governance (Fundamental Rights - Art 21, DPSP - Art 48A, Key Legislations); National Bodies (CPCB).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society/Geography): Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
General Studies Paper 2 (Governance/Polity): Government policies and interventions; Important aspects of governance, accountability; Issues relating to Health.
General Studies Paper 3 (Environment): Environmental pollution and degradation.
Essay: Topics on Urbanization, Environment, and Public Health.
Key Highlights from the News
Noise pollution in Indian cities (Urban noise pollution) has become a neglected serious public health crisis.
Although the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has a monitoring network called the National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network (NANMN), it collects information but is not effectively used for enforcement.
Although a strong law called the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 exists in the country, its implementation is very weak.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that noise pollution is a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution (Right to live with dignity).
Noise pollution adversely affects not only human health but also the behavior and ecosystems (ecological cost) of birds and other living beings.
To solve this problem, coordination between government agencies, strict enforcement of laws, prioritizing noise control in urban planning, and fostering a sonic empathy among the public are necessary.
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