The Department of Environment (DoE), the authority responsible for controlling noise pollution in the country, has stopped measuring sound levels in the noisy capital over the past one year.
“The measuring of sound pollution in and around the capital is temporary halted as the officials are busy with different types of regular activities,” said Muhammad Shahjahan, additional director general of DoE.
He added that the department would resume sound-measuring activities soon.
Meanwhile, QSI Hashmi, director (planning) of DoE, said the agency had taken a different approach to curb sound pollution, including creating public awareness and imposing fines.
However, due to shortages of funds and manpower, the measures against sound pollution could not be implemented properly, he added.
Noise pollution has been increasing in the city for various reasons, including the presence of a large number of vehicles with noisy engines and loud horns.
A recent study by Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba) shows that sound pollution in Dhaka is almost twice the normally acceptable levels.
According to the Poba study conducted in April, measurements taken at different points in the city _ including silent, residential, mixed, commercial and industrial zones _ showed sound levels exceeding 1.5 to two times standard levels.
The environmentalist group blamed the excessive noise on the government’s inactiveness in implementing Sound Pollution (Control) Rules (2006) that are meant to reduce sound pollution.
Poba also blasted the continued use of banned hydraulic horns by heavy vehicles plying in the city.
Experts say noise or sound pollution can harm people’s health, causing hearing loss or mental stress _ and even hypertension _ especially among children and the elderly.
High levels of sound pollution can impair children’s mental growth, said Dr Sajal Ashfaq, an ENT (eye, nose and throat) specialist.
The study found the sound level to be 104 decibels (dB) in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, which is in a silent zone.
In Shahbag, which is also considered a silent zone due to two important hospitals located in the area, the level was 97dB.
According to government regulation, the highest degree of sound acceptable in a silent zone is 50dB.
Of all the places sampled, Dhaka airport main road was found the most sound-polluted area with 116dB.
Tejkunipara and Dhanmondi were the noisiest residential areas, registering 102dB and 94dB respectively, far exceeding the 55dB safe sound limit for residential zones.
Kakoli and Karwan Bazar were the noisiest commercial areas, with 108dB and 95dB respectively, although the standard is 70dB.
The sound level in Tejgaon’s Nabisco area measured 93dB, much higher than the 75dB limit for industrial zones.
