Shishir Reza :
The level of sound pollution is very closely related with urbanisation and motorisation. Excessive noise may cause irritation, fatigue, dilation of pupils of the eyes, diminution of gastric secretion. Hypertension, Headache, Indigestion, peptic ulcer, ectopic beat etc. Exposure to high level of noise may cause severe stress on the auditory and nervous system of the urban dwellers, particularly the children. Dhaka City is one of the crowd cities in Bangladesh where different industries, hospitals and bus stations are available. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of noise on street children’s at selected bus stations in Dhaka city.
Excessive horn is very detrimental to public health. It implies a discomfort and restlessness caused to humans by unwanted high intensity sound. Dhaka city is very multitude area in Bangladesh where the elemental survey has been conducted on street children’s at different bus stations – Azimpur, Mohammadpur, Shahbagh and Mohakhali. Practical and field based observation through Environmental Multi-meter denotes that the average level of noise at four Bus stations area is 100 DB. All stations are exceeding the standard level of sound where the standard level of sound is 70 DB. In this context, lack of engineering controls, using analogue machines and lack of awareness of excessive sound in urban area creates insurgencies on health of street children’s. Out of the 100 street children’s of 4 bus stations, 10% were suffered from heart beat, 15% were suffered from hypertension, 25% were suffered from sleep disturbance, 55% were suffered from heart problems, 20% were suffered from hearing problems. To control excessive noise insurgencies at both rural and urban area, under the ‘noise control act – 2006’, City Corporation may arrange a agreement with automobiles groups, owner of different vehicles and specifically train the vehicles driver to resolve the excessive sound which is very harmful for public health particularly for street children.
Noise seems to have become an indispensable part of Bangladesh’s urban life. Noise pollution is a neglected issue in Bangladesh but it is a severe health hazard for the physical and mental health of the urban people, particularly of the children. It is imperative for the decision makers, leaders, planners, engineers and concerned persons to keep the noise level within the acceptable limits. Hydraulic horns of buses, trucks, minibuses, construction work, factories, etc. strain the ears and nerves of the citizens every moment. It is time for NGOs, the media, the related individuals and the government to work together to reduce the noise level so that in the long run people can eradicate excessive sound from the country once for all. This paper communicates the impact of excessive horn on family less street children’s in Dhaka. Such as, old vehicles should be banned; complete banning of the vehicular hydraulic horns in any places of the country; modern technology should apply in motor vehicle; drivers and passengers should mind traffic law.
(Shishir Reza, an Environmental Analyst & Associate Member, Bangladesh Economic Association)
