NEW DELHI: Residents living in proximity to temporary camps set up for the annual Kanwar Yatra in Delhi are experiencing significant disruptions to their daily lives, including sleep deprivation and heightened noise pollution. The situation has become a considerable burden for those whose homes are adjacent to these camps, with complaints of blaring music, rattling windows, and clogged neighbourhood roads becoming widespread.
Intense Noise Levels Raise Health Concerns
The Kanwar Yatra, a pilgrimage undertaken by devotees of Lord Shiva, involves the carrying of holy water from the River Ganges. While the Yatra itself causes traffic congestion across the city, residents near the camps are facing a more immediate and personal impact. Reports indicate that noise levels from boomboxes at these camps often continue late into the night, with bass so strong that it causes vibrations in nearby homes. Investigations using sound meters in areas like B-Block, Ramesh Nagar, have recorded noise levels exceeding 90 decibels within homes closest to the camps, and remaining significantly elevated even at a distance. These levels are far beyond the recommended exposure limits set by the World Health Organization, which warns of the risk of permanent hearing damage with prolonged exposure. Specifically, the World Health Organization suggests exposure be capped at approximately four hours per week at such high decibel levels. This starkly contrasts with the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) regulations, which limit ambient noise in residential areas to 55 decibels between 6 am and 10 pm, and a quieter 45 decibels during nighttime hours. At some camp sites, readings have soared to over 100 decibels, reaching peaks as high as 110.3 decibels near Kalkaji, comparable to the sound of a jackhammer at close range. These levels far exceed the legal limits, which, according to CPCB rules, cap ambient noise in residential areas at 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night. Loudspeakers are further restricted, with a hard limit of 75 decibels at the boundary of the public place where they are used. The Supreme Court has also prohibited the use of loudspeakers and sound amplifiers between 10 pm and 6 am, except in specific permitted circumstances.
Daily Life Disrupted
The impact of the excessive noise and activity extends beyond hearing concerns. Residents report that their sleep has been shattered, office calls are frequently interrupted, and school routines for children have been disrupted. The accumulation of garbage around the camps has also become an issue for those living in the vicinity. The presence of the camps and the continuous movement of devotees, some travelling in convoys with trucks fitted with large sound systems, has transformed daily life into a struggle for many. The blaring music, often played at volumes reaching 110 decibels, far surpasses the permissible limits set by the Central Pollution Control Board, which are 55 decibels for daytime residential areas and 45 decibels for nighttime. This has led to widespread complaints and concerns about the long-term health effects on residents exposed to such intense sound pollution.
Traffic Congestion Adds to Woes
In addition to the noise and disruption around the camps, the Kanwar Yatra has also led to significant traffic congestion across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Major routes connecting Delhi with Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad are experiencing slow-moving traffic, diversions, and delays. Key areas affected include the DND Flyway, Ashram Chowk, Mathura Road, and the Badarpur corridor. Commuters have been advised to check live traffic updates, use the Metro where possible, and allow for extra travel time. The convergence of the Yatra with weekday traffic is exacerbating the congestion, particularly during peak morning and evening hours.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
