A check on decibels: Sound and noise monitoring stations to come up in State’s coastal areas

Team Herald

PANJIM: With complaints of noise pollution due to late night parties and unauthorised events along the beach belt, especially in North Goa, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided to install sound and noise monitoring stations across the coastal areas for real-time noise level monitoring mechanism. 

The Board has sought assistance from the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) for installation of the stations. The GSPCB has identified 12 sites to conduct continuous ambient noise monitoring and these include Calangute, Baga, Arpora, Candolim, Arambol, Morjim and Mandrem in North Goa, while in South the stations will be installed at Colva, Cavelossim, Benaulim and Agonda.

Sources informed that Board has roped in a private player to set up continuous, real time noise level monitoring system with a quick alert reporting system and a noise control centre to inform the GSPCB about the increase in noise level at 12 locations in the State. The noise will be monitored 24×7 with sampling of noise to be done every five minutes.

Sources said that system will enable the authorities including police to swiftly act against the noise pollution in the areas.  The Board has already undertaken noise-mapping exercise to quantify sound pollution in industrial areas, the tourism belt and residential areas. 

As per law, the ambient noise quality standard for industrial area in the day time is 75 decibels (dB) while it is 70 dB at night time. For commercial area, the noise level is restricted at 66 dB at day time and 55 dB at night, whereas for residential area, the air quality standards are 55 dB during the day and 45 dB at night. For silent zones, the noise prescribed limit is 50 dB during day and 40dB during night hours. 

Sources said that the online data will come to GSPCB office with one feed going to the concerned police stations thus helping them to act swiftly. 

Locals from the coastal belts often complain about late night parties and other events leading to noise pollution. However, the authorities have failed to act against the violations.