Kabul residents complain about increasing noise pollution

KABUL (Pajhwok): A number the residents of Kabul complain about what they call it increasing noise pollution, especially in central parts of the city and ask the government for a solution.

Kabul municipality officials insist no one should cause noise pollution or harm other residents and they assure such violators would face legal consequences.

Noise pollution is considered one of the major problems of the environment. The sounds of various vehicles, loudspeakers used by shopkeepers and vendors and the sound of generators are major factors behind noise pollution in the cities.

A number of residents of Kabul complained about such awkward sounds in the city and ask the government to prevent the phenomenon.

Mohammad Qaseem, a resident of Kabul said: “Unfortunately, a number of vendors use loudspeakers for attraction of customers which harm other passersby. Cities are places where different people such as elders, children and sick people live, such loud noise leaves a negative impact on their lives.”

He urged civilians to follow the culture of the city life and Islamic ethics and they must not cause any sort of harassment to others.

Tamim, another resident, said such noise irritates him a lot and he cannot walk in the city conveniently.

Referring to noise created by vehicles, Tamim said the sound of loudspeakers and generators cause inconvenience to people. He asked the government to prevent such noise pollution in the city.

What are psychological impacts of noise pollution?

Psychologists believe that prolonged exposure to noisy places can cause serious damage to people’s mental health.

A psychologist Sharafuddin Azimi said: “Anxiety, anger, aggression, boredom, sleep disturbances and interaction problems are usually caused by noise pollution.”

Referring to the impact of noise pollution on children and elders, he said the impacts of noise are more serious on such people. If experienced for long time, such people may suffer psychological disorders and their nervous system may be weakened.

Another psychologist, Mohammad Safa Farzaee, said noise pollution harms human body as microbes and it leaves negative impacts on human health.

Noise pollution can damage human ear, it can also cause nervousness and make a human upset internally.

The Kabul mayor insisted that no one had the right to use loudspeakers and cause inconvenience to others.

Nematullah Barakzai, spokesman for the mayor, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “The use of loudspeakers is a false culture in the business of Afghanistan, officials of the municipality would address this problem through its permanent patrols and confiscate loudspeakers of the sellers.”

He hoped the residents would be cooperative to officials and help significantly reduce noise pollution in the city.

The phenomenon of noise pollution was discovered in 1970 in Italy for the first time. Before that, there were no laws for controlling noise pollution, but now most countries consider noise pollution as an environmental problem and are combating it by designing programs and passing laws.

aw/ma