Panaji: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has put on hold its proposal to install eight additional real time online noise monitoring systems after discovering that the 38 systems already in operation cannot accurately identify the source of noise.The decision follows a report by the board’s noise monitoring cell, which found that the existing systems record overall sound levels but cannot distinguish between noise generated by commercial establishments and other sources such as sea waves, wind, traffic, honking or neighbouring activities.In light of the findings, the GSPCB has ordered an inquiry into the installation and use of the 38 monitoring systems. Board members said the probe will examine how noise exceedances recorded by the systems were attributed to individual establishments despite the equipment’s inability to isolate specific sources.The inquiry will also look into how environmental compensation for noise violations was assessed and why the limitations of the monitoring systems were not brought to the board’s attention earlier.The findings are contained in a draft baseline study conducted by the Noise Monitoring Cell on establishments that have installed Real Time Online Noise Monitoring Systems on their premises.According to the report, the systems capture sound equally from all directions, making them suitable for measuring overall environmental noise levels but not for identifying individual contributors to the recorded sound.“Standard monitoring equipment captures the total sound pressure level, including amplified music, noise from cooling systems, ambient sounds such as sea waves and wind, and localised sources like vehicular traffic, honking and neighbouring commercial activities,” the report states.The study found that natural sounds, particularly sea waves, make a significant contribution to the noise profile in several locations. As a result, even in the absence of amplified music, ambient and environmental noise levels may remain elevated.“Recorded sound levels reflect combined noise sources and not solely amplified music from establishments. Hence, it is not possible to accurately identify only the amplified music played by an establishment using the existing systems,” the report states.The board had earlier planned to expand the network by installing eight more monitoring systems across the state. However, that proposal has now been deferred pending the outcome of the inquiry and a review of the effectiveness of the existing monitoring mechanism.
