In a bid to control sound pollution, the West Bengal government has recently imposed sound limits on use of siren in ambulances. The move is expected to put a check on ambulance drivers who use the siren indiscriminately and unnecessarily.
In a similar move earlier, the use of air horns, multi-toned horns and various other classes of loud horns were forbidden from being used.
The state has categorised four zones and fixed the upper decibel limit separately for day and night. The four zones are: “industrial”, “trade”, “residential” and “silent”.
The upper decibel limit for the zones are:
Industrial: 75 decibel (day) & 70 decibel (night)
Trade: 65 decibel (day) & 55 decibel (night)
Residential: 55 decibel (day) & 45 decibel (night)
Silent: 50 decibel (day) & 40 decibel (night)
