Despite a notice by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to Haryana Government over the noise pollution in Gurugram, high decibels levels continue to be a major irritant for residents.
While normal standards for noise levels have been set at 60-70 db, noise levels in Gurugram are often as high as 90-100 db.
Medical experts say that long exposure to noises beyond 85 db can be harmful to health, leading to temporary hearing loss, migraines, sleep apnea, mental ailments high-blood pressure and heart diseases.
A major cause for increase in noise pollution in the Millennium City is the rise in passenger and commercial vehicles and honking by such vehicles. Unchecked use of loudspeakers and large scale construction activities are other major contributors.
Despite the presence of several rules and regulations aimed at curbing sound pollution, residents point out the lack of action by authorities.
"A major reason why sound pollution is growing unchecked is because people really don't understand that how it is affecting us daily. On busy streets of Gurugram, unnecessary honking is rampant. Police have taken action against usage of loudspeakers in the city, but most people continue to flout the rules and are not penalised for it, "said Garima Gupta, a city resident
Certain initiatives are also being carried out in the city to raise awareness about the issue.
For instance, on Sunday, a no-honking campaign was organised at Gurugram-Faridabad road, where commuters were urged to keep honking to a minimum.
"There is no denying the fact that honking continues to be a major source of noise pollution in the city. While most commuters claim that honking is done out of compulsion, some of them also do it selfishly. In many cases, we are levying fines on commuters who indulge in mindless honking. We are also taking steps to prevent the usage of horns in areas around schools and hospitals, "said a senior Gurugram Traffic Police official.