QUANTIFIED CITIES MOVEMENT

EXAMPLE: HELPS CREATE POLICY THROUGH CITIZENS PARTICIPATION IN SOUND DATA COLLECTION AND MAPPING TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE.

MONITORING LEGAL PROVISIONS AND STANDARDS THROUGH CITIZENS PARTICIPATION.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal agency in the administrative structure of the Central Government for the planning, promotion, co-ordination and overseeing the implementation of Indian environmental and forestry policies and programmes.

The MoEFCC has provided regulatory measures for the control of noise pollution by way of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. Link is provided below.The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 stipulate that;

    1. There are to be noise standards in different zones or areas (industrial or commercial or residential).
    2. There are to be ambient air quality standards in respect of noise for the different areas.
    3. Areas that come within a 100m buffer around;
      i. Hospitals
      ii. Educational Institutions
      iii.Courts
      iv. Religious places
    may be declared as silence area/zone for the purpose of these rules.
    4. Ambient Air Quality Standards in respect of Noise as below
Area Code Category of Area/Zone Limits in dB(A) Leq
Day Time Night Time
(A) Industrial area 75 70
(B) Commercial area 65 55
(C) Residential area 55 45
(D) Silence Zone 50 40

For more information on and full text of The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, definitions, procedures and enforcement, please access the links provided below.

The framework helps uphold urban quality of life by helping citizens monitor and support Government rules and regulations in multiple ways viz.

    1. By mapping the various silence areas and zones enumerated in the The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 below.

Interact with the map above and you will observe that almost all of Ward (Prabhag) 37 in Pune city is a Silence Zone as per the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. Is the law being followed? The silence zone must no exceed 50dB in the day and 40dB at night. Lets collect some sound data to check! JOIN THE QUANTIFIED CITIES MOVEMENT!!

    2. The framework provides training and access to formats as well as information on methodology and instrumentation for ambient noise data collection click on LINK (Takes a little time to load). Through collecting data at various pre-determined points in an area, citizens can check if the law or norms and standards are being adhered to and report their results at Urban Pulse Points
    3.The framework provides Urban Pulse Points all over the city where citizens can upload information. This information is mapped and compared to standards for identifying stresses and infringments. Look out for a Urban Data Link Point in your neighbourhood to upload your data!
    4.The framework helps report the stresses or infringements through a report to the concerned authority or on this website for the use of citizens or civil society organizations (CSOs) as well as through the newspapers and radio when appropriate or legal.
    5.The framework, through the above process facilitates participatory, evidence based informed decision making and consensus building between the citizens, elected representatives and the Municipal Corporations for improving the quality of life of our Wards/Prabhags.

Links