WHEN are we really going to take a serious look at the noise pollution which has become a serious problem particularly in our cities, it should have been done a long time ago but, as the saying goes, maybe its better now than never.

I often think that noise pollution in our cities have reached such enormous levels, there is no way we can reverse it now completely. We have been left over choosing between health and well being on the one hand, and the commercial and public services, on the other. It is a difficult choice. We invented engines, amplifiers, speakers, a multitude of horns and other things to make our life easier and more pleasurable.

However, these inventions do help us but at the same time, do damage to our ears and behaviour. I work in an area in the capital where there are four schools within 500 metres but all along the main road.

Thousands of cars, buses and trucks use this major road 24 hours everyday emitting all sorts of sounds as blaring horns, racing engines and screeching brakes. I honestly cannot understand how those children study with this din in the background.

All of us are aware that noise can damage hearing. It was taught to us in school.
However, a sort of a threat that disaster would overtake the human race if nothing is done about noise, it is unlikely that our people today would become strongly motivated to do something about this problem.

I think it's time we make people be aware of the problem and seriousness of noise pollution and convince them that we do have the ability to make the greatest changes concerning noise pollution.
The best way to do it is by educating them through radio, television, newspapers, or community gatherings.

At the same time, each one of us also has a role to play. While in our homes we can keep the televisions, radios, and stereos turned down. We can also sound proof their homes by using heavy curtains on the windows and also use acoustical tile on the ceilings and walls.

The amount of this pollution can also be reduced if we take certain precautions like planting trees and shrubs in front of homes and buildings to absorb sounds, or by using sound proofing materials when building offices and homes.

Noise pollution, especially concerning transportation, can be reduced by banning car horns in certain areas and by limiting the traffic flow through residential areas. Research from Australia suggests children aged between 10 and 15 who listen to loud personal stereos for more than six hours a week may be damaging their hearing so badly that they could suffer hearing problems 30 years early.
The report says that stereo noise for one hour is equivalent to listening to a pneumatic drill for eight hours a day. Another survey showed that eight out of ten young club goers were unconcerned about potential damage to their hearing.

This is despite the fact that 62 per cent of regular clubbers and 72 per cent of regular concertgoers report problems with their hearing. Concerts and nightclubs produce sounds that can register up to 120 decibels, louder than a pneumatic drill.

We have traditionally viewed noise as a 'nuisance' rather than an environmental problem.
As a result, most regulation has been left up to the municipal authorities. Of course, noise bylaws and ordinances do exist in local bodies.

They may contain a general prohibition against making noise that is a nuisance to other people, or they may set out specific guidelines for the level of noise allowable at certain times of the day and for certain activities.

Exceptions are generally made for activities considered legitimate or necessary, such as a political or national events. Regardless of how lax or stringent a local law may be, enforcement is difficult. Many local bodies do not have adequate resources to follow up on complaints.

Even if they have, they may be unwilling to do more than issue warnings, since taking offenders to court is expensive. The police may also act on certain kinds of noise complaints, but generally do not assign them a high priority.

For persistent nuisances, the individual may have to seek damages through the civil courts. This can be a long, costly procedure with no certainty of success. In short, legal protection against noise is very patchy and often inadequate. This should be our priority number one. The Government should introduce something like the 'Noise Pollution control Act' to meet our own conditions.

Apart from such kind of legislation, there should be a city noise control code for all major cities. the creation of unnecessary noise has to be prohibited and should be punishable under law.