As per a NITI Aayog 2022 report, urban India contributes to 60 per cent of India’s GDP. This is a staggering number. If not concern for people at least for economic reasons state governments and civic bodies need to approach urban development with a sense of urgency and a holistic approach that has been missing so far. By 2030 reports estimate that urban India will contribute to 75 per cent of India’s GDP. This will be done by sleep-deprived people grappling with diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stress, depression and other issues?
The livability quotient of an urban city in India seems inversely proportional to its economic growth and contribution to the national GDP.
When we look at our cities , it is clear that we as a nation primarily think of ‘development’ in terms of buildings. Few (even among the residents) look at what happens outside the building wall. Road is a faraway place. The wider suburb is as distant as the Antarctic. The city ? Well that’s another planet. Road quality, transport, drainage, water supply, water quality are issues to be addressed as they come up. Not proactively. Noise pollution is not even in the radar for most people even though it adversely impacts their quality of life.
How we measure progress and productivity in modern society explains why our systems are designed and optimised to produce maximum noise. This is a worldwide phenomenon. Consumerism and convenience are prized. Building a factory that will sell sugary beverages is seen as progress. Protecting a forest or nurturing a garden doesn’t get the same level of acknowledgement because we can’t assign a monetary value to it or derive cash flow from it.
Noise pollution is not a mere inconvenience, but a serious health and environmental issue. Nor is it an unavoidable part of urban life. In recent years, globally there has been a great mobilisation of resources to combat air pollution, which is responsible for the premature death of more than 7mn people a year across the world. Cities need a similar campaign waged against the cacophony that is harming people and the planet. This cannot be the sole burden of a few social organisations or individuals. Everyone needs to pitch in.
Most urban cities of India have not had the benefit of planning. Resulting in chaotic growth.
Whether access to something as essential as a clean public toilet, or good roads or public transport – citizens struggle for basics. They pay for the lack of planning by civic bodies over decades with time, money and health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least one million healthy life years are lost every year in the western part of Europe due to traffic-related noise. This environmental burden of disease from noise includes various health effects such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance, tinnitus, and annoyance. The impact of noise pollution on public health is a growing concern, and authorities can use this information to prioritise and plan environmental and public health policies. Such research does not seem to have been initiated yet in India.
It is tempting to think of noise pollution as a non-issue for India or as a first world problem. India is home to 101+ million diabetics. Around 314 million Indians suffer from hypertension. The number of people who have these conditions but are not yet diagnosed is estimated to be in millions. Noise pollution creates/aggravates stress and eventually a range of physical and psychological issues. Which will compound the health issues of those with hypertension and diabetes. Noise pollution creates sleep deprivation / reduces sleep quality which affects every age group from infants to senior citizens.
Noise pollution limits are being exceeded in nearly all Indian cities, with urban areas experiencing the worst violations. The issue is not that we lack the norms. The problem lies in the lack of enforcement of them by state governments and police.
Noise pollution is an issue that needs the participation of ALL stakeholders – state government, civic body, police, traffic police, judiciary, businesses, media, individuals, communities, innovators, environmentalists, NGOs, medical fraternity, educators, children.
India is on a development path. Roads, airports being built at an unprecedented scale. Airlines in India have cumulatively orders for more than a thousand aircrafts. When they are received and pressed into action it would mean several thousand more flights per day across India. More airports across the country are getting connected to international destinations. Which means more aircrafts of foreign airlines will be flying into and out of India. Railways are expanding their fleet of trains. Every year millions of new cars and 2 wheelers are being sold in India. New metro lines are being commissioned in various cities. We are clearly a nation on the move.
Construction of roads, highways , residential buildings , offices , educational institutions is at its highest level.
Sales of virtually every product are growing. E-commerce , food delivery apps mean choice & convenience to the consumer and revenue to the seller. It also means increased noise and air pollution.
While all of this adds to economic development and the GDP it equally adds to the NOISE LEVELS. So just to maintain the sound levels even to today’s elevated level we need to reduce several sources of noise.
We need a new kind of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to reduce the acoustic debris from our cities and towns. This is only possible with Jan Bhagidari of crores of Indians who understand that noise pollution poses a health risk to them and their loved ones.
Reducing noise pollution will save us thousands of crores as a nation in health care, lives, lost time and productivity. It will improve the destiny of families.
A genuine effort at the individual and collective level will address not just noise but also air pollution, reduce waste, increase mindfulness which will give us much needed clarity, strength, energy and resources to address other challenges.
The book ‘Noise in Our Nation’ explores the impact of noise pollution and the spectrum of actionable solutions as individuals, communities , businesses , govts and civic bodies. Inviting every Indian to be a Guardian of Silence contributing to a quieter and healthier India.
