Ear-drum ripping noises

A WHO study has revealed that noise pollution could cause no fewer than 30 diseases, some of which would be life-threatening. Harmful effects of high decibel cacophony on the human mind and body are well known. The sources of such pollution are not far to seek. Yet, successive governments have failed to do anything to contain them. This government had decided to frame a set of rules to control sound pollution in 2004, but nothing concrete has been heard about it since.

Yes, the policy-makers are convinced that pollution has to be contained in the interest of public health, but the realisation is not reflected through any administrative action. They do not have any plan of action as such. Otherwise, the indiscriminate use of loudspeakers and hydraulic horns would have been prevented by now. Obviously, unplanned growth of the city is one reason why certain areas are more susceptible to the scourge than others. This obviously is a problem that will have to be handled on a long-term basis. But the law enforcers should be able to eliminate the irritants like blaring of horns and indiscriminate use of loudspeakers in residential areas without ado. The traffic police are under instructions not to allow hooting of hydraulic horns, but we don't yet see any practical application of the taboo.

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Sound pollution is causing great damage to public health and as such will have to be treated as an environmental problem, energy sapper and a health hazard. The inordinate delay in adopting a guideline to combat this menace cannot be countenanced any longer. The government must adopt an action plan to muffle the noises around us or find civic life debilitated.