The capital’s noise level is two times higher than what is permissible, posing a serious threat to public health, a study has said. Vehicle horn, brick chips machines, mills, factories, music accessory shops and public gatherings are the main sources of noise pollution in the capital, it says.
Save the Environment Movement disclosed the study report at a press conference at its office.
They conducted a noise level survey in November 2013 to measure the capital’s noise level.
The movement member and Department of Environment former additional diretor general Md Abdus Sobhan presented the report which found that in different ‘silent’ areas of the capital — Dhaka Shishu Hospital area, Bangabandhu Shekh Mujib Medical University Hospital, Labaid Hospital, Maternity Hospital, Japan-Bangladesh Hospital, Shahbagh intersection areas — noise level is 75-97 decibel at daytime though the permissible level is 50 decibel.
According to the Noise Pollution Control Rules 2006 in silent areas the sound level should be 50 decibel at day and 40 decibel at night.
The report said in different ‘residential’ areas of the capital — Dhanmondi, Kalabagan and Sat Mosjid Road — noise level is 76-87 decibel at day time though the permissible level is 55 decibel at daytime and 45 decibel at night.
The noise level of capital’s different ‘mixed’ areas like RAJUK Bhaban, GPO, National Press Club, Bangla Motor, Farmgate, Shankar bus stand, Science Lab intersection, Khilkhet, Jasim Uddin Road and Abdullahpur of Uttara is 73-102 decibel while the permisible level is 60 decibel at daytime and 50 decibel at night.
In the ‘commercial’ areas like Motijheel, Gulistan, Kawran Bazar, Gabtoli, Nilkhet, New Market, Shaymoli, Paltan Intersection, Mouchak intersection the noise level is 71- 107 decibel while the permisible level for commercial areas is 70 decibel at daytime and 60 decibel at night.
Abdus Sobhan said uncontrolled noise is threatening children, expecting women, heart poatient and it hampers mental developement of children.
He said noise pollution also cause many physical problems like blood pressure, insomnia, deafness, lack of attention, head ache and abnormal behaviour.
Abdus Sobhan said Department of Environment, Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakhya, local governmnt administration and law enforcement authoritis need to take effective measure in this regard.
The movement joint general secretaries Hafizur Rahman Moyna and Syed Monowar Hossain and programme coordinator Atiq Morshed were also present at the press conference.
They recommended more awareness, implementation of Noise Pollution Control Rules 2006, maintenance and monitoring of public transport, conducting adequate mobile court drive to check noise pollution.
-With New Age input
