The State government will consider imposing severe penalties on those who violate safe sound norms, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
Inaugurating a workshop in connection with the first global parliament on safe sound at the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) here on Friday, Mr. Vijayan said more awareness campaigns were the need of the hour to make the public aware about the ill effects of noise pollution and to frame sound laws on safe sound. The conference, being organised by the Indian Medical Association and National Initiative for Safe Sound, begins here on Saturday. Noise pollution is increasing at an alarming rate and according to reports, it has been having a significant effect on the physical and mental well-being of people. Children and pregnant women are the most vulnerable population exposed to the dangers of noise pollution, the Chief Minister said.
Mental development of infants can be affected adversely by high decibel levels. It can harm foetuses and possibly affect its hearing. In adults too, constant exposure to high-decibel sounds can lead to deafness.
While it is not possible to impose a ban on the use of earphones, safe sound norms can be brought in to control the decibel levels of vehicle horns. However, the demand for safe sound norms will come from the public only if they are made aware of the ill- effects of exposure to high decibel levels, Mr. Vijayan pointed out.
He said that the State will take the lead in implementing suggestions which may emerge from the conference to curb noise pollution and reduce its impact on health
Those who were present included C. John Panicker, chairperson of the National Initiative for Safe Sound, IMA State secretary N. Sulphi, and NISH Director K.G. Satheeshkumar, among others.
The international conference on the impact of noise pollution on health will be inaugurated by Dewaswom and Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Saturday.
Over 500 delegates are expected to participate in the two-day conference.
