The New Nation - Internet Edition

NOISE of different forms is playing havoc to not only people's comfort but also their health. But action to prevent the same does hardly exist. The irony is that many people who feel annoyed by the sounds, are unaware of what bad effects they have on their health. Traffic police recently declared a ban on using of horns in some busy roads of Dhaka as a step against noise pollution. They say that they have plans to extend it to other parts of the city. But the step is more a symbolic one and is devoid of practical value. It is impossible for automobiles to make their way through roads that are used by all modes of traffic from pedestrians to push carts. Thus, honking on the roads is a necessity and stopping it will create greater traffic mess while contributing only marginally towards the control of noise pollution.

What is required is not only asking motorists not to use their horns, but a comprehensive set of restrictions against the creation of noise that would establish it squarely as an offence. Such restrictions must include prohibition of the use of loudspeakers and other noisy activities in residential areas. The Society for Assistance of Hearing Impaired Children (SAHIC) conducted a year long survey at 21 spots to find out the impact of noise pollution on the residents of Dhaka city. The survey result showed that hearing ability of 76.9 per cent of the surveyed people was damaged from continuous noise pollution. A private university and a non-governmental organisation jointly surveyed 20 spots in Dhaka city recently that included residential areas and ones with academic institutions and hospitals where the least noises are desirable. In these areas, sound levels should be within 45 decibels but the survey found average sound level 75 decibels near Dhanmondi, 86 decibels near Birdem hospital and 76 decibels near Kakrail. In what should be a purely residential area at Kallyanpur, the survey found the average sound level at 80 decibels. The average sound level in other residential areas comes near to this level or even surpasses it in some cases.

Noise pollution not only leads to gradual hearing loss. It also creates medical conditions such as high blood pressure, palpitation, loss of concentration, headache, irritation, insomnia and other forms of physical and mental sicknesses. A piece of legislation to prevent noise is considered vital from the standpoint of public health. The government decided about a couple of years ago that it would enact laws to control noise pollution. The draft of a law was prepared that recommended Taka 10,000 as fine and maximum six months of imprisonment for creating noise higher than the permissible limits. But the proposed law has not seen the light of the day.