Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is expected to undertake noise mapping of industrial areas, cities and other silent zones as part of an action plan for monitoring the noise pollution.
The mapping will be initiated at Verna Industrial Estate for industrial area, Panjim and Margao for commercial and residential areas and Goa Medical College and Cujira school complex – Bambolim for silent zones.
As per the action plan, the Board will carry out noise-level mapping along with police officials on regular basis, with assistance from the laboratories approved by the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
The ambient air quality standard for industrial area in the day time is 75 decibles (dB) while it is 70 dB at night time. For commercial area the noise level is restricted at 66dB at day time and 55dB at night, whereas for residential area, the air quality standards are 55db during the day and 45db at night.
For silent zones, the noise prescribed limit is 50db during day and 40dB during night hours.
The Board has to organise capacity building and necessary technical guidance for the officials of Revenue and Police Department. The Board has to also carry out noise level monitoring whenever required on the instructions of the revenue authorities.
“The noise-level mapping shall be extended to other areas if required on the recommendations of the district magistrate,” the action plan reads.
Further, a loudspeaker or public address system or any sound producing instruments or musical instruments will not be used in open areas without prior permission of the authorities.
In case of open air venues for marriages /weddings/ functions/ parties etc. each such venue shall install online noise level monitoring system and shall also provide a display board along the periphery of the venue so as to display the noise levels recorded at the venue for the benefit of the public. Such online system will be connected to the GSPCB server.
