This paper analyzes the impact of second wave of COVID-19 lockdown on environmental noise levels of 25 sites in Delhi city and compares the noise scenario during pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown periods. The study utilized the noise monitoring data acquired from 25 real-time ambient noise monitoring stations, installed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Delhi, at various sites throughout Delhi city. A significant reduction of up to 10 and 3 dB(A) in day and night equivalent noise levels, respectively, had been observed during the lockdown period as compared to the pre-lockdown and post-lockdown periods. The study also revealed that only nine sites, including four industrial and five commercial zone sites, complied with the ambient noise standards during lockdown period, and no silence or residential zone sites complied with the ambient noise standards even during the lockdown period. A roadmap for environmental noise management and control is suggested. The study also reports the community's perception toward the change in acoustic environment of Delhi city during the lockdown period by conducting an environmental noise perception survey. The present study should be helpful in devising noise control action plans and policy interventions for environmental noise management and control in the metropolitan city Delhi, India.
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September 2022
September 02 2022
Effect of lockdown amid second wave of COVID-19 on environmental noise scenario of the megacity Delhi, Indiaa)
Special Collection:
COVID-19 Pandemic Acoustic Effects
S. Kumar;
S. Kumar
1
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)–National Physical Laboratory
, New Delhi 110 012, India
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N. Garg;
N. Garg
c)
1
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)–National Physical Laboratory
, New Delhi 110 012, India
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B. S. Chauhan;
B. S. Chauhan
c)
1
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)–National Physical Laboratory
, New Delhi 110 012, India
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C. Gautam;
C. Gautam
c)
1
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)–National Physical Laboratory
, New Delhi 110 012, India
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T. Chand;
T. Chand
2
Delhi Pollution Control Committee
, Kashmere Gate, Delhi 110 006, India
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M. P. George;
M. P. George
2
Delhi Pollution Control Committee
, Kashmere Gate, Delhi 110 006, India
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K. S. Jayachandran
K. S. Jayachandran
2
Delhi Pollution Control Committee
, Kashmere Gate, Delhi 110 006, India
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b)
Electronic mail: saurabh.npl20a@acsir.res.in
c)
Also at: Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India.
a)
This paper is part of a special issue on COVID-19 Pandemic Acoustic Effects.
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 152, 1317–1336 (2022)
Article history
Received:
May 25 2022
Accepted:
August 10 2022
Citation
S. Kumar, N. Garg, B. S. Chauhan, C. Gautam, T. Chand, M. P. George, K. S. Jayachandran; Effect of lockdown amid second wave of COVID-19 on environmental noise scenario of the megacity Delhi, India. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 September 2022; 152 (3): 1317–1336. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0013827
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