“The Delhi Zoo is safe for its inhabitants and the noise-air pollution level here is well within the prescribed limits” – says the latest report of the Central Pollution Control Board.
The Delhi Zoo officials had requested the CPCB to conduct a noise-air pollution test in the zoo premises following a public interest litigation filed in the Delhi High Court earlier this year that sought shifting of the zoo on the grounds that the animals, birds and other species were suffering due to noise and air pollution.
“The tests were carried out at various locations inside the zoo. The CPCB took into account the fact that the zoo has a railway loco-shed and the main railway line that runs to the east of the zoo and that it has the busy Mathura Road on the western side. Noise levels were tested with the help of noise meters at 12 locations, while air quality machines were put up at two locations. The noise metre samples are taken every 15 minutes while air tests are conducted for eight hours a day,” said a senior zoo official.
“The fact that the animals are healthy and breeding regularly is an indication that there is no excess noise or air pollution within the park. This is a very densely wooded area which doesn't allow noise-air pollution to filter in and cause much harm. Now this latest report by the CPCB has indicated that the noise and air pollution levels are actually much lower than the prescribed limits and that there is no harm being done to the inmates,” said senior zoo official Riaz Khan.
“Noise-air testing was not mandated by the High Court. It was an initiative of the Delhi Zoo officials who wanted to make sure that no harm was being done to the inmates. We are also testing the water quality within the zoo,” he added.
