THE National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has commenced implementing noise and vibration pollution regulations in which permits will be given to those whose activities will be producing high-decibel sound than the required level stipulated.
The regulations has set out the amount
to activities that produce more noise, for instance, permit for making
sound in recreational areas is 10m/- per event while 5m/- is for
blasting in the mines.
Previously, noise pollution had only
been taken or referred to as a tort, but with the coming of the new
regulations, it seems NEMC has decided to get more serious on the matter
as the regulations has set up the procedures to deal with a person or
activities which are considered illegal.
NEMC Director General Engineer
Bonaventure Baya said that among other things, the regulations spell out
sterner measures, including fine and imprisonment to violators. He
further said environment law has set punishment to violators who create
noise and vibration pollution in which one will be required to pay fine
of not less than 50,000/- and not more than 50m/- or imprisonment, or
both.
Eng Baya, therefore, cautioned members
of the public to avoid causing noise and vibration exceeding the set
level, stressing strict compliance with the set level stipulated in the
regulations during day and night.
“We have been receiving complaints from
many people regarding the disturbances caused by noise and vibration
from various socio-economic activities,” he elaborated. Eng Baya also
warned against the use of high-decibel sound producing instruments in
densely populated areas, which have detrimental effects on the general
health of the people.
He said that use of loud speakers and
public address systems should get explicit written permission from
competent authorities. The DG further said that noise and vibration
pollution regulations have set up required level of sound to control
volume in various places such as hospitals, residential areas, mines,
social halls, night clubs, advertisement spots and bars.
Eng Baya noted that the council had
observed various challenges, including lack of knowledge of the level of
sound restricted, as some people purposely violate the set laws and
others unknowingly use obsolete equipment, which produce noise
pollution.
NEMC Acting Director, Environmental
compliance and Enforcement, Ms Ruth Lugwisha, said the problem of noise
and vibration pollution has been there for a very long time.
Ms Lugwisha said since NEMC had started
enforcing the regulations, several people/ institutions in the country
had so far been punished. Though she did not disclose the exact names of
the institutions or people who have violated the law, she said they
have punished people/institutions from three different areas.
“Measures taken include fines,
compliance orders, improvement notices and stop orders. Therefore,
equipment owners should make sure they control noise by putting in place
sound proof material,” she explained.
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