Soundscape of Bhadrak Town, India: An Analysis from Road Traffic Noise Perspective
The road traffic noise environment in Bhadrak, one of the district head quarters of Orissa in terms of standard noise indices, community response and community health effects are worked out in the present study. Noise pollution is analysed in five different squares (road sections) to assess the sound scape of the town. The sources of noise at the studied sites are predominantly attributable to motor vehicular traffic. Taking the tolerated noise level of 70 dB (A) during the day time on the main roads as standard for United Kingdom and many other European countries, in absence of regulation regarding permissible level for road traffic noise in India, the noise levels of all the five investigated locations were found to be beyond permissible limit during day time. Noise produced from cargo carrying trucks, bus, Bolero, trekker, motor cycle, tractor, dumper, tempo, ranges from 103.2– 123.4, 101.2–118.3, 96.8–115.5, 98.3–113.2, 92.5–110.2, 106.4–116.5, 101.2–119.6 and 95.5–114.7 respectively. Thus, the contributions of individual vehicles towards noise pollution were found to be more than the road traffic noise-limit, i.e., 70 dB (A). A preliminary survey adopting questionnaire method amongst 256 local inhabitants has also been carried out to gather information about the suffering of people. The direct impacts include sleep disturbance, loss of concentration, annoyance and irritation, hypertension, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problem, restlessness, depression, fatigue and mental stress etc.
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