Noise, everywhere!

Along with the crime situation going berserk , chaos in the roads, electricity and telephone system playing games with consumers, noise pollution has become another nightmare for city dwellers. That they have lost a "little of hearing ability" is no surprise; the greater surprise being that they have been able to maintain their sanity!

But before the government issues the rules, it should tarry a while and think about the consequences. Will the police (Noise Control Police?) be able to implement the rules? Do they have the ability to measure the decibel limits imposed by the rules? We have seen the minister going to bazaars catching shop owners with polythene bags, he is running in the brick fields checking the height of chimneys of brick-kilns. Hopefully, he won't be standing at the Farm Gate or Gulistan with an audiometer to check noise levels!

But there is a bigger problem -- a substantial proportion of pedestrians in Dhaka's streets would jay walk; they are careless pedestrians who do not bother about the traffic. When I drive through Tejgaon, I occasionally watch scores of garment girls crossing roads without bothering to check the traffic. Slowing down for them to cross, I have often wondered, is looking right and looking left to check the traffic so difficult for them when they are taking a grave risk on their lives. What can a motorist do rather than honk to warn them? Clusters of rickshaws and scores of people block roads, obstructing free- flow of traffic. One is compelled to honk in such situations.

Many people are not aware of traffic rules, of the damage that honking does to one's ear-drums and one's nervous system. Obviously, a sustained campaign is needed to train them for their benefit and for the benefit of society. Let not a good initiative wither away because of wrong planning and thoughtless implementation.