THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As part of an initiative to check noise pollution in the state capital, State Pollution Control Board (PCB) will sign an MoU with the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) to do ‘noise mapping’ in the capital city as a first step.
While delivering the keynote address at the ‘Safe Sound’ media workshop held under the joint auspices of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), National Initiative for Safe Sound (NISS), district administration and Kerala Union of Working Journalists here on Tuesday, PCB Chairman K Sajeevan said the noise mapping would be done to identify the locations where noise pollution was beyond permissible limits.
Sajeevan said that in association with the CRRI they would measure the noise pollution at various spots on the city roads and notify various ‘sound zones’ based on the data collected in the mapping.
A report in this regard would be made available by next March. Based on the reports, various departments will be coordinated to involve them.
Leading an awareness class on ‘noise pollution and its ill effects’, Dr John Panicker of the National Initiative for Safe Sound said that India, especially Kerala, has become the world capital of noise pollution.
He said it was high time the authorities concerned ensured that noise level of vehicles was restricted within the permissible limit.
He said apart from the sound pollution from various places like churches, temples and certain workshops, noise pollution in the houses also had a harmful effect on the health of individuals.
Kerala Chalachitra Academy chairman Rajeevnath inaugurated the workshop.