PESHAWAR, March 9: The persistent noise pollution in the city, crossing the international standard of 85db (Decibel) from the last few years, requires setting up of a monitoring cell and regular surveys for controlling it.

This observation has been made in a survey report conducted by an intern of the Department of Environmental Sciences with the collaboration of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).

The survey was conducted in 27 selected spots of Peshawar and reveals that noise level in commercial and industrial areas has crossed permissible level of the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS).

However, in residential and recreational areas, the noise level ranges between 76db to 84db.

The main source of noise pollution in the city is termed as vehicles, specially rickshaws and buses, and the maximum noise level has been recorded during the survey was at Khyber Bazaar at 107.4db.

Similarly, the maximum noise level recorded in an industry is that of ceramic industry which was 100.4db, followed by marble with noise level at 98.6db.

“When the marble rock is cut by a huge saw, it produces ear-tearing noise.”

The study suggests that a noise monitoring cell should be established which should not only devise the noise level standards but also conduct surveys regularly on annual basis.

The Environment Protection Agency should also devise comprehensive noise level standards and for this purpose the noise standards of other countries could be consulted, it adds.

The study further says: “The Environment Protection Agency official should be authorized as an inspector and he should have provision of checking the vehicles and issuing challan notices.

“Proper legislation is also needed for industrial zone and noise level in these areas should be checked regularly.

“Media should be motivated for creating awareness among the masses, especially vehicle owners and industrialists.

“The use of defective silencers should be banned and those using it should be fined with the help of traffic police.

“Pressure horns should be removed from buses and heavy vehicles. Similarly, the use of loud music should be discouraged by creating awareness among the passengers.

“The traffic flow, especially in congested areas, should be organized and the new roads be made broad and wide considering the future growth of the public and private vehicles.

“For the vehicles to be kept in good condition, the Environment Protection Agency should make periodic check-ups through the Vehicle Emission Testing Station (VETS) for tuning.

“To protect the policemen from adverse effects of noise, they should be provided with noise reducing devices like mufflers, earplugs, etc.

“To reduce noise level in industry, certain noise absorptive equipment needs to be used.

“Noise level standards should be distributed among the industrialists and workers. They should be made aware of the ill effects of noise and it is their right to be provided with protective devices.”

For reducing noise pollution in parks, the study suggests establishment of recreational facilities away from the main road.—APP