ANALYSIS OF VEHICULAR NOISE POLLUTION AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN SRINAGAR TOWN OF (GARHWAL) UTTARAKHAND, INDIA.

Besides growing levels of air and water pollution, road traffic induced noise pollution has been recognized as potential threat to feasible quality of life especially in the urban areas. The accelerated pace of economic development urbanization, and increased vehicular mobility has affected remotest location of India and the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand is no exception to it. The serenity and tranquility for which it’s acknowledged globally, is growingly affected by traffic induced noise pollution caused by inflating Pilgrimage/tourism industry, rampant road constructions, encroachment, traffic mismanagement etc. The peak pilgrimage season brings with it uncontrolled traffic influx in the region. All the major pilgrimage towns located on the national Highway from Rishikesh to Badrinath are affected by the vehicular Noise pollution and traffic congestion especially during the holy pilgrimage season. The study tries to evaluate the Noise pollution problem in one of the important towns of Uttarakhand ‘Srinagar ’located 105 kms upstream from Rishikesh, on NH-58. Heavy movement of traffic and illegitimate usage of horns is considered main cause of noise pollution in the town which grows irrationally during the yatra season. The average number of vehicular flow was observed to be 890 vehicles/day during the yatra season (May) as compared to 575 vehicles/day during the non yatra season(January). The the average noise intensity levels of the town was recorded to be 70dB and noise levels have reached at an alarming stage. It was observed that in 4/5 noise monitoring location, the noise intensity was above the prescribed noisestandard level of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS). The vulnerability to various noise induced health hazards was also very high in the area because the valve of R was 0.78.