Level double than permissible: Poba

Noise pollution levels around the capital's “quiet, residential, industrial, commercial and mixed zones” in April were nearly double the maximum limits allowed by the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2006, stated a Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba) report yesterday.
The report, “Current state of noise pollution in Dhaka city: Steps to take”, prepared following a Poba survey, was unveiled during a press conference in Poba's Kalabagan office in the capital. As per the rules, the maximum daytime noise limit for “quiet zones”, defined as any area with hospitals, educational institutions, offices and related organisations within a 100-metre radius, is 50 decibels, says the report.
However, noise levels around Shahid Zia Girls' School and College in Jatrabari, and National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar were recorded at 100 and 97 decibels respectively, it said.
“Noise pollution can hamper people's mental and physical development. The worst affected are children, pregnant women and heart patients,” said Poba Secretary Mohammad Abdus Sobhan.
The penalty provisions of a maximum six-month jail sentence or fines worth Tk 10,000 or more for offenders, as stated by the rules, are hardly enforced, he said.