Characterization and Analysis of Ambient Noise Levels in Rohtak City (Haryana)

This paper presents the noise pollution status of Rohtak city with emphasis on objective day night noise measurement and subjective response of people. Twenty different sites were selected to measure the noise level and determine noise sources at these selected sites. Selected sites fall in the category of residential, commercial, silence zone and road traffic junctions. Noise level measurements and analysis for the locations were based on the noise descriptors LAeq, L10, L90, LD, LN and LDN. The traffic density and PCU during the day and night hours have also been studied at commercial areas and traffic junctions. LNP and TNI have been calculated to Know the noise status at different sites. The results of statistical analysis of sound pressure levels shows that commercial areas have the highest day time noise levels (78 dB(A)) followed by traffic junctions ,residential areas and then by silence zone areas while night time noise levels are maximum on traffic junctions (60.2 dB(A)). This study shows that the major source of noise in Rohtak city is traffic noise. Spectral distributions of noise at different octave band frequencies have also been presented for Sector-1, DPark, Delhi bypass and Campus school. At 90% confidence level, Mean square ratio (MSR) calculated for LNP is 26.3, while tabulated value is 2.36. Similarly at the same confidence level The MSR calculated for TNI is 25.32 and the tabulated value remains as 2.36. Since in the two cases, the calculated MSR is greater than the tabulated value, there is a significant difference (p>0.05) in the noise pollution level and TNI in the locations surveyed based on the data analysed at 90% confidence level. About 44% respondents of questionnaire survey are highly nose sensitive and complained that mainly traffic noise disturb them both in day and night hours. Road map has been prepared for Rohtak city and many solutions have been proposed for noise abatement in the city.