![]() Since noise is transferred through a gaseous medium, anything falling in the category of being an irritant to natural existence in an appropriate concentration falls under this Act. The Act states that any solid, liquid or gaseous substance that causes harm to the natural environment or any creature part of that environment is a “pollutant”. Section 2(a) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, includes “noise” in the definition of what is considered as an ‘air pollutant’ with an implicit model of reference. ![]() To understand the nature of this problem effectively, it is prudent to look at the legal framework in India to manage the issue, mechanisms to combat it and whether these provisions are satisfactory for addressing the growing levels of noise in Indian cities. but also more covert alarms such as depression, alienation, increase in levels of frustration, lack of concentration that in turn affect all other physical aspects of existence. ![]() It has been established well beyond doubt by now that “noise” above a certain level of measurement poses not only physical threats to human well-being such as loss of hearing, headaches, etc. ![]() In the Indian context, this issue takes on a more complicated character not only owing to our history of living in harmony with the environment but also regarding the somewhat inescapable trade-off between development and environment that characterizes the policy choices of all developing countries in the modern world today. With greater emphasis on material structures of progress, focus on the indisputable logic of “urbanization” as a manifestation of that progress and a seemingly perplexing lack of consideration for the immaterial, the spiritual and the metaphysical seems to have brought us to a point where the consequences of pollution appear to have surpassed the limits of acceptability and the only thing left is for us to experience the disastrous consequences of those far-reaching changes for our unfortunate future generations. Pollution in many ways seems like an inevitable curse of human civilization. By Debokarsho Dutta, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. ![]()
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