Abstract

Ambient noise level monitoring in Chandrapur City of Central India was carried out in residential, commercial and silence zone in January 2017. Ambient noise level monitoring was carried out with the help of sound level meter at receivers position (1.2 m from ground level) for 24 hours so as to calculate noise level during day (Ld), noise level during night (Ln) and noise level during day and night (Ldn). Recorded noise levels were compared with Indian Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) w.r.t. noise. The results revealed that maximum noise level during day time (Ld) in residential area was in Nagina bagh 85.55 dB (A) and minimum in Police quarter 82.33 dB (A). For noise level during night time (Ln) it was similar as that of day time (Ld) values and similar observation trend in these sampling locations was recorded for noise level during 24 hours (Ldn). It can be concluded that in all residential area sampling locations noise level was significantly above the stipulated Indian Standards (NAAQS) for day and night time both. In commercial and silence zone day time, night time and day and night time noise levels were significantly higher than the stipulated standard. The order of noise level in these three sampling zones was in the order of commercial > residential > silence. The plausible reasons for such a significant higher noise level can be attributed to vehicular activities on street, anthropogenic activities, traffic problems due to “one way” in major part of the city along with old haphazard city planning. Thus, noise pollution has emerged out as a major physical pollution in the Chandrapur city.

Key Words:  Central India, Chandrapur, Decibel, Environment, Noise pollution

DOI: https://ejesm.org/doi/v11i3.1