Compliance of Noise Standards during COVID Pandemic in Residential and Silence Zone at NEERI Campus, Nagpur

Abstract

Lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic is imposed all over the countries for the containment of corona virus disease worldwide. Hence all forms of transport (trains, flights, and automobiles), industrial activities, shopping malls, and social activities, except essential commodities and services, are restricted according to lockdown policies. Such cumbersome constraints influenced the economic circumstances of the country. At the same time, environmental conditions are enhanced temporarily, which can be considered as a silver lining. A research study is executed to quantify the consequences of lockdown on the noise pollution levels in NEERI campus, Nagpur. During the lockdown conditions, the noise monitoring was conducted at 3 locations (1 source – National Highway and 2 receptors– residential and silence zone). Further, the noise levels during lockdown conditions are compared with noise levels prevailing in pre-lockdown conditions. A significant reduction of 10 dB (A), 6.9 dB(A) and 4.3 dB(A) during the day time and 11.3 dB(A), 10 dB(A) and 3.1 dB(A) during the night time are observed at National Highway, residential zone and silence zone respectively. The study reveals that during lockdown conditions, the noise level plunged below the prescribed legal limit for the residential zone as well as for the silence zone. As an outcome of this lockdown, noise pollution has reduced immensely, the dominant reason being a decrement in the traffic volume, which also entails a reduction in honking. The study revealed that prescribed legal noise level standards are achievable, which failed to comply for many decades. In such a case, the study stipulates a new dimension of thought process to control noise pollution in urban areas, promoting sustainability with acoustical comfort. Many aspects of the current lockdown can be carried forward and reconstructed to be comprehended in the post lockdown scenarios.