MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Residents of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, say vendors use loud speakers to sell their goods, which causes a lot of noise pollution.
They ask local officials to remove loudspeakers from hand-carts and prevent unnecessary honking of horns by vehicles.
Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif city, said noise pollution had increased in the city.
He added some drivers honked their car horns impatiently while caught in traffic jams, creating air piercing sound.
He asked local officials to control the use of loudspeakers by vendors in order to prevent noise pollution.
Hashmatullah, another resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, who owns a shop in the city, said due to loud speakers, honking cars and motorcycles people could not hear each other easily.
He added noise pollution caused many disorders like hearing impairment, hypertension and heart problems among the people and officials should stop it.
Noorullah, another resident, also expressed similar views and said many people had developed mental problems due to noise pollution.
He added: “The loud sounds of loudspeakers and horns have caused nervous problems to people, we seriously request its prevention."
Some doctors also say noise pollution triggers psychological and physiological ailments and has a negative effect on human mind.
A doctor in Mazar-e-Sharif, Abdul BasirSirat, says: "Noise pollution disturbs the mind and nerves of a person and then destroys his concentration. If someone is constantly exposed to noise pollution, his nerves and mental health damage, so it is good to stay away from noise pollution”.
Balkh Department of Environmental Protection officials also accept the problems mentioned by the people and assure solution.
Director of Environmental Protection Mohammad Mohammadi told Pajhwok that noise pollution caused many mental and nervous problems to people.
Mohammadi said he had coordination meetings with Balkh traffic management and Mazar-i-Sharif municipality and was trying to prevent noise pollution.
Earlier, residents of Nangarhar, Kandahar and Khost provinces had also complained about increasing noise pollution.
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