HANDLE WITH NO CARE: Vehicle users blare horns even at hospitals like this one at Yashoda Hospital in Somajiguda, which is earmarked as a silent zone. - Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

HYDERABAD: Contrary to assertions on earmarking `silent zones' near hospitals, educational institutions and courts and strict implementation of noise level norms, most of these places in the city continue to be drowned by the din of the incessant flow of vehicular traffic.

According to norms, these institutions are to be declared as silent zones while ensuring that noise levels remain below 40 decibels during night and 50 decibels in the day. However, there is hardly any check to ensure the noise levels and consequently hospitals, in particular, are subjected to high noise levels.

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) data for last year records the noise level to be consistently above 80 db at Punjagutta, which is very close to city's premier health institution, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS). The monthly data has been above 80 db for last year and the average for the year close to NIMS was put at 80.36 db against an acceptable limit of 40 db for a designated silent zone.

Though there is no monitoring facility close to Osmania General Hospital and Gandhi Hospital, the two other leading medical facilities of the city, PCB officials admit that the noise levels here, too, would be close to double the stipulated limit. And the same happens to be the case at most of the educational institutions.

In view of the harmful consequences of noise pollution, the Union Ministry of Environment had put in place the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, which was accepted by the State Government as well. As per this, zones are to be demarcated as industrial, commercial, residential and silent based on the nature of a particular location. As per the rules, silent zones need to be identified with appropriate signage and prohibiting use of horns. It also entails check on vehicles with a stipulation that their audio systems should not be heard more than seven metres from the vehicles and also restrictions on use of loud speakers and sound amplifiers. Turning a deaf ear to the rules and worse, flouting them with disdain as loudly as it can get, no one seems to be listening!

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