Let there be noise

Despite the ever-rising noise pollution in big cities of the country, there is not much awareness about the harmful effects of sound pollution. Our increasing inability to lend our ears to good counsel can be gauged from the fact that even a day like Dec 10 marked Noise Pollution Day went largely unnoticed in most of the country, as there were no seminars, workshops or other related activities concerning the issue. The Punjab Environment Protection Department says since for the past few years they have been focusing on smog, they have been unable to observe the day in a serious manner. However, they have not achieved any notable success in combating the smog either, which shows up in the deteriorating air quality in major cities of the province.

A senior official of the department says it does not have any record of noise pollution. This is even when technology to measure noise pollution is available, and the World Bank is also said to have provided money to control this kind of pollution. The government only advises people on preventive measures. People from residential areas have long been urging the government to shift factories from their areas, but ironically the reverse is being witnessed. Neither is there concrete action against vehicles causing noise pollution. Sound pollution causes deafness, mental stress, blood pressure; and disturbs students in their studies and people engaged in activities where concentration is needed. It is very harmful to those suffering from chronic illnesses. There is the need to increase plantation of trees as they act as a good sound barrier.

There is traffic noise, factory noise, noise of the noisy variety of music, currently the most popular music. There is noise at and around construction sites; there is noise when two or more people fight and also when they shout at one another; and added to this group is the increasing noise in parliament. Many people know the harm caused by noise pollution, yet they cannot act to prevent it.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2020.

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