Action against noise pollution overdue
Monday, 18 January 2010
Shihab Ahmed
THE government has been footdragging in making a noise pollution control law. A draft law, stipulating a fine of Taka 10,000 and a maximum imprisonment of six months for producing noise higher than the permissible limits, awaits approval. The reasons are not known. Why is this footdragging? A pollution free environment would benefit millions of people, gradually losing their hearing ability. Rising noise pollution is hurting all. Many already lost their hearing ability.
According to a sample survey done at 21 spots of Dhaka city by the Society for Assistance of Hearing Impaired Children (SAHIC) over a year, 76.9 per cent of the people covered, had their hearing damaged by noise pollution.
Another survey of 20 spots in the city done recently by a private university and an NGO found the sound level at residential areas with academic institutions and hospitals at 75 decibels against the permissible level of 45 decibels.
Near the Oxford International School at Dhanmondi, the sound level was 86 decibels, near Birdem hospital and Viqarunnessa Noon School, it was 76 decibels.
At the exclusive residential area at Kylanpur, the average sound level was 80 decibels. The sound level in some of the residential areas even surpassed it.
Noise pollution also causes blood pressure, palpitation, loss of concentration, headache, irritability, insomnia and other physical and mental sicknesses. It is time, the government takes the draft document out of the freezer to make the law, without delay, to control noise pollution.
Almost ceaseless honking and the indiscriminate use of loudspeakers by vendors and other users and industrial activities in residential areas are big sources of noise pollution. A comprehensive legislation and its diligent enforcement can provide the needed relief to the capital city's population.
THE government has been footdragging in making a noise pollution control law. A draft law, stipulating a fine of Taka 10,000 and a maximum imprisonment of six months for producing noise higher than the permissible limits, awaits approval. The reasons are not known. Why is this footdragging? A pollution free environment would benefit millions of people, gradually losing their hearing ability. Rising noise pollution is hurting all. Many already lost their hearing ability.
According to a sample survey done at 21 spots of Dhaka city by the Society for Assistance of Hearing Impaired Children (SAHIC) over a year, 76.9 per cent of the people covered, had their hearing damaged by noise pollution.
Another survey of 20 spots in the city done recently by a private university and an NGO found the sound level at residential areas with academic institutions and hospitals at 75 decibels against the permissible level of 45 decibels.
Near the Oxford International School at Dhanmondi, the sound level was 86 decibels, near Birdem hospital and Viqarunnessa Noon School, it was 76 decibels.
At the exclusive residential area at Kylanpur, the average sound level was 80 decibels. The sound level in some of the residential areas even surpassed it.
Noise pollution also causes blood pressure, palpitation, loss of concentration, headache, irritability, insomnia and other physical and mental sicknesses. It is time, the government takes the draft document out of the freezer to make the law, without delay, to control noise pollution.
Almost ceaseless honking and the indiscriminate use of loudspeakers by vendors and other users and industrial activities in residential areas are big sources of noise pollution. A comprehensive legislation and its diligent enforcement can provide the needed relief to the capital city's population.