Steps against sound pollution demanded

Green activists at a discussion on Wednesday urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to put an end to growing sound pollution in the capital. They said though the government has announced Sound Pollution (Control) Rules (2006) to cut sound pollution, it is hardly enforced. So, they said, the Department of Environment (DoE), city corporations, Rajuk, local government bodies and law enforcing agencies should take measures to stop the sound pollution. Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba), an environmental group, arranged the discussion at its city office. The speakers said that noise or sound pollution can harm people’s health, causing hearing loss or mental stress and even hypertension, especially among children and elderly people. Referring to the findings of a recent survey, they said sound levels everywhere in the capital are double the limit permitted under the Sound Pollution (Control) Rules 2006, according to UNB.