Environment Ministry Sets Limits For Noise Levels At Airports

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) has issued a notification that sets standards for noise at airports across the country. The notification, dated 18 June, states that noise standards within the boundaries of airports qualify as ‘Industrial Zones’ and excludes defence aircraft as well as those which are taking off or landing, reports Hindustan Times.

The notification sets the limits depending on the time of the day – day time is 6 am to 10 pm and night time is 10 pm to 6 am – and on the number of aircraft movements.

Airports with more than 50,000 aircraft movements per year cannot exceed 75 dB (A) Leq during the day time and 65 dB (A) Leq during the night time. For airports with aircraft movement between 15,000 and 50,000, the limits are 65 dB (A) Leq and 60 dB (A) Leq respectively.

Decibels (dB) (A) Leq denotes the equivalent value of sound that is time weighted on a scale of “A” that can be related to the levels of human hearing capacity. Sound levels will be measured at different points within the airport premises and then averaged.

The notification also sets up Airport Noise Zones that are areas where the noise contour is defined by the airport operator on the basis of laws prescribed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the master plan for the region.

Upcoming airports would require “noise-modelling” to be conducted prior to permission being granted by the MoEF.