Bar owners, motorcyclists warned over noise menace

KATARE MBASHIRU

THE National Environment Management Council (NEMC) Director-General, Engineer Bonaventure Baya, addresses reporters during a press conference in Dar es Salaam regarding regulations aimed at controlling noise and environmental pollution on Tanzania Mainland. (Photo by Staff Photographer)

THE National Environmental Council (NEMC) has warned owners of bars, night clubs, dance halls and motorcyclists to observe the noise and vibration pollution regulations, insisting that stringent measures would be instituted against defaulters.

The environment watchdog also says that complaints of noise pollution are mainly coming from churches, mosques, industrial zones, public rallies, among other areas.

Speaking at a news conference in Dar es Salaam, NEMC Director General, Engineer Bonaventure Baya, said his agency had already fined companies and individuals who were not obeying the regulations adding that more penalties would be slapped to those who were still reluctant in implementing the regulations.

“We are also contemplating to issue an order to motorcyclists through their associations to obey the regulations because many people have been complaining of noise pollution,’’ he pledged.

NEMC measures against the malpractice include fines, compliance orders, improvement notices and stop orders. Therefore, equipment owners ought to make sure that they control noise by putting in place sound proof material. However, there are noises that are allowed by the law.

They include emission of noises for the purpose of alerting persons on the existence of an emergency and during performance of emergence response or in the connection with the protection of the health and safety of residents or their property during emergency conditions as well as during parades and national celebrations.

Also, noises can be emitted by warning devices necessary for the protection of public safety such as police, fire and ambulance sirens and train horns.

Noise pollution has reportedly exposed residents of Dar es Salaam and other cities to distress and physical and mental health risks. According to the NEMC Director General, noise pollution in the cities was rising to unprecedented levels, warning that his council would no longer tolerate that nuisance.

There has been unnecessary noise, which has been disturbing residents in towns and cities that are brought about by the loud music in bars, shops, cars, dance halls, motorcycles and live promotional road shows, among others.

Eng Baya said NEMC and the Environmental Police Unit would soon launch an operation to crack down on all people causing noises that are above permissible limit value adding that some companies and owners of bars had been fined while others were slapped with compliance orders, improvement notices and stop orders.

Among them is the popular Matei Lounge in Dodoma that paid 5m/- and Tanzania Cigarette Company (TCC) that was ordered to pay 15m/-. However, TCC challenged the fine in court where the case is yet to be determined.

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 while others unknowingly use obsolete equipment, which cause noise pollution.