Is a one-minute silence the solution?

The government today observed a minute's silence in Dhaka city from 10:00am to 10:01am. The ministry of environment, forests and climate change took the initiative to raise awareness about the harmful effects of noise pollution.

During the one minute of silence campaign, vehicles were called on to refrain from honking horns. Special campaigns were also conducted at 11 noisy points in Dhaka from 9:30am to 10:00am where leaflets and stickers were distributed among the motorists asking them not to blow horns unnecessarily.

The environment ministry deserves praise for at least initiating this campaign at a time when noise pollution in Dhaka has reached unbearable levels that cause long-term damage to the physical and mental health of city dwellers.

With the huge increase in the number of vehicles in this city over the last decade, the menace of noise pollution seems unstoppable. Be it in the residential, commercial or industrial areas, almost everywhere we are assaulted by the deafening noise from horns and sirens, construction sites using brick crushers, and loudspeakers.

A report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released last year stated that Dhaka has the highest level of noise pollution among the 61 most populated cities in the world. The average noise frequency in Dhaka is currently 119 decibels, which is twice the tolerable standard. According to the World Health Organization, sound above 60 decibels can cause temporary deafness and sound above 100 decibels can cause permanent deafness.

Against such a backdrop, is a a minute's silence enough to curb this pollution?

The answer is no. There are laws that protect people against sound pollution in the country, but without enforcement they are meaningless and city dwellers are exposed to the incessant cacophony of noise pollution.

The government promulgated the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2006, laying down specific guidelines regarding noise pollution and the degree of allowable noise in different areas.

The rules have clustered five types of areas: silent areas, residential areas, mixed areas, commercial areas, and industrial areas. According to the rules, the permissible level in the silent zones (100 metres around hospitals, educational institutions, courts and offices) is 40 decibels at night and 50 decibels during daytime.

The permitted noise level for residential areas is 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night. In commercial areas, the limit is 60 decibels at night and 70 decibels during the day and 70 and 75 for industrial areas.

Unfortunately, we have not seen any monitoring mechanism from the authorities concerned to control the sound pollution, especially the indiscriminate honking of vehicles. And due to the lack of enforcement of the rules, many designated silent areas face acute noise pollution. The rules have provisions for punishment, but rarely if ever are offenders brought to book.

We must realise that noise pollution is a serious concern and take urgent action to keep it within limits. The rules must be implemented strictly in coordination with all relevant ministries, departments and law enforcers.

At the same time, we have to ensure discipline in the traffic movement. Drivers have to be educated and well aware of the harmful effects of noise pollution so that they blow horns sparingly and only when it is absolutely necessary. Although the government is responsible for controlling this menace, we, the citizens, also have a role to play. We cannot just be so callous and let it go on.