Area of silence zone around a hospital, Institution or Court is of radius:

Appeared in: UPPSC 2022

Explanation

The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, a key environmental law in India, defines the specifications for a 'silence zone'.
This rule explicitly mandates that an area comprising a radius of not less than 100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions, and courts be declared a silence zone.
The primary objective is to prevent noise-related disturbances that can impede patient recovery, disrupt educational activities, or interfere with judicial proceedings.

Option B: This value is 50 metres more than the legally specified minimum radius for a silence zone.
Option C: This is double the standard minimum radius defined by the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
Option D: This distance is significantly larger than the mandated 100-metre radius and is not supported by the regulations.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Environmental Regulations: Noise Pollution Control helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A quiet environment is a critical component of a therapeutic milieu for patient recovery. Excessive noise is a physiological stressor that can lead to sleep deprivation, increased anxiety, elevated blood pressure, and even delirium in critically ill or elderly patients.
Nurses are patient advocates and play a role in maintaining a low-noise environment. This includes managing noise within the unit and being aware of external regulations like silence zones to protect patients from outside disturbances.
What if? A patient on the ward complains of loud, continuous noise from a nearby event at night. The nurse should first take immediate steps to mitigate the noise for the patient (e.g., close windows, offer earplugs) and then escalate the issue to the nursing supervisor or hospital administrator. The administration can then contact local law enforcement to enforce the silence zone regulations.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on environmental law, which has implications for healthcare settings.
First, identify the key terms in the question: 'silence zone', 'hospital', and 'radius'.
The question asks for a specific measurement related to a legal definition.
Recall the provisions of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, in India.
The rule specifies a minimum radius of 100 metres for silence zones.
Compare this fact with the given options (100m, 150m, 200m, 250m).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) p. 128-130

Practise the full UPPSC 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.