PANAJI
From the coming month, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will undertake real-time online noise level monitoring across 12 locations in the coastal belts in a bid to curb noise levels breaching permissible limits.
The Board is also set to make it mandatory for the open air venues for marriages, functions, parties and other events to install an online-noise level monitoring system that would be linked to the GSPCB’s centralized system.
Based on the noise level mapping undertaken by the Board, it has identified commercial zone locations to install the noise monitoring terminals. Facilities are already installed in five locations while the process at seven other locations. The Board is awaiting NOC from the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC).
Speaking to The Goan, GSPCB chairman Mahesh Patil said that within next 15 days, the Board will be in position to launch the continuous, real time online noise level monitoring facility with a centralized networking system linked to the offices of the GSPCB, Police Department and District Collectors. The system will monitor noise-levels continuously for 24 hours, 365 days a year.
“We are installing the system at 12 locations along the coastal belts. We should be in position to launch it from September 7 onwards,” he said.
The online data will come to the GSPCB office with one feed going to the concerned police stations and district collectors’ office, thus helping them act swiftly.
Patil said that the Board will grant three month time to the owners of open air venues to install an online noise level monitoring system, which would be a mandatory condition while granting them permission to play loud music.
He said that the system should be connected to the GSPCB server as well as the office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate and Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police for the purpose of monitoring the noise levels and ensuring compliance to the Rules.
As per law, the ambient noise quality standard for commercial areas is 66 dB at day time and 55 dB at night, whereas for residential areas, the noise standards are 55 dB during the day and 45 dB at night.
