Noise pollution rises unchecked

Focus on smog leaves other environmental issues neglected

LAHORE:

Noise pollution in big cities of Punjab has become a serious issue because of the failure of the departments concerned to take timely action to keep its level under check.

The environment protection department is responsible to tackle noise pollution. However, even on December 10, that is marked as Noise Pollution Day, the department has no plan to arrange workshops, seminars or awareness messages regarding the issue.

On the other hand, disease of deafness, depression and anxiety are increasing due to noise.

According to experts, along with air and water, noise pollution is also a serious issue but is not a priority of the authorities. The noise of vehicles and factories, especially near educational institutions, hospitals and residential areas, has disturbed the life of the people. The noise pollution is affected by the health of the citizens of all age groups.

A senior officer of the environment protection department told The Express Tribune, “We are directly responsible to tackle water, air and noise pollution but at the moment our priority was smog, so for the past few years the department has not been observing the day seriously.”

Previously, the Punjab government took some steps to curb noise pollution and started action against substandard vehicles.

It also declared some important roads of big cities as ‘silence zone’, including the Jail Road of Lahore where major women’s universities and hospitals are situated. Horns were banned on the designated roads but the initiative was not implemented.

“Worldwide research shows that noise pollution is affecting mental health immensely,” said a professor of psychology at Punjab University. The noise pollution is most dangerous during the night for the elderly and patients of heart and chronic diseases.

Mostly, noise pollution due to traffic, pets and neighbourhood noise cause sleeplessness that leads to stress and other mental health issues, the psychologist said.

Dr Javed Iqbal, a senior ENT consultant at the Services Hospital, said, “Noise pollution damages our inner ears which cause ringing noises and decreases hearing. Noise also produces depression, anxiety and stress, which lead to high blood pressure and we are finding such illnesses among every age group of citizens that is alarming.”

People living near roads and factories are facing mental health issues. “Noise pollution is a big challenge for us and we have to counter it. For this purpose issues of traffic, substandard vehicles and factories in residential areas should be resolved. We should start tree plantation in factory and traffic areas as it is a natural tool to counter noise pollution,” said Dr Munawer Sabir, Director of the Integrated Mountain Research Department.

Environment Protection Department Public Relations Officer Sajid Bashir said its efforts for controlling smog and water pollution had been effective. The department is also making efforts regarding noise pollution and will do better in this regard in future,” he added.

However, another official of the department said it did not even have any data about the level and record of noise pollution. “No one has ever asked us about such data. We just mention steps for guiding people and give advice on our website, but we have no mechanism to compile the data on a daily basis.

When contacted, Zakia Shahnawaz, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Environment, said, “We consider that noise pollution is also a serious issue and there should be work to counter this issue. We have the technology to measure noise pollution but we have no data. But we have advised the public about noise pollution.”

She said the World Bank had given financial help to the government to work against noise pollution and it should spend money on the issue. The government should take steps to shift factories from residential areas and also take action against vehicles causing noise pollution, she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2020.