RAWALPINDI: The Metro Bus Project has increased noise levels in the city, forcing the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (Punjab-EPA) to recommend establishment of buffer zones between commercial and residential areas.

Last week, Punjab-EPA conducted a survey in the garrison city under the supervision of Deputy Director Maqsood Ahmed at three points including Raja Bazaar, Committee Chowk (Murree Road) and Pirwadhai and found the noise level much higher than the national standard.

A decibel (dB) is the unit used to measure the intensity of a sound. At Raja Bazaar the noise level was found to be at 75 dB, at Committee Chowk (Murree Road) at 85 dB and in Pirwadhai at 90 dB. However, the national standard for the noise level is 45-55 dB for residential areas, 55-65 dB for Commercial areas and 65-75 dB for Industrial areas.

After conducting the survey, Punjab-EPA sent a recommendation to its head office for the establishment of buffer zones in the above mentioned areas as soon as possible.

In its report, the department said that residents in these areas are in at risk for deafness, hypertension and mood swings. “The local administration had been directed to build parks, plant trees and grass,” the report said.

It also recommended launching a campaign against those vehicles and commercial units which are producing more than the allowed level of noise in an area.

This survey caused concern among authorities, as all the main hospitals are also located in these areas and the noise levels may begin to affect patients.

There is regular movement of heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses in the Pirwadhai area which emanate smoke. However, neither Parks and Horticulture Authority nor the forest department has take any initiative to plant trees here.

District Officer Environment Muhammad Nawaz admitted that noise pollution in the garrison city has reached a dangerous level and causing health problems.

“If noise levels increase above 50 dB then it will create health problems in residents,” he said.

He added that there is a dire need to establish buffer zones. “Between commercial and residential areas, a two kilometer long area with parks, green belts and trees will be created to lessen the impact of noise levels,” he said.

To a question, he said that he agreed that the Metro Bus Project had increased noise levels and that a test will be conducted soon to determine air pollution levels as well.

He said that Punjab-EPA has begun to take action against noise producing vehicles in city. In the last two days, the two teams issued challans to 14 vehicles and collected Rs6750 as fines.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2014