From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Enugu State Government has identified noise pollution as one of its greatest challenges in the capital city.
To halt the ugly trend, the government has formulated an anti-noise pollution policy that will take effect from November 15, 2024.
Executive Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), Uche Anya who disclosed this at a town hall meeting in Enugu, yesterday, to discuss how to implement the new policy, said that it would be enforced with human face.
He said the authorities would clamp down on churches, mosques and open-air clubs which activities constitute noise pollution in residential areas within Enugu metropolis.
Addressing the meeting which had religious leaders and representatives of entertainment industries, Anya said that the ECTDA had in one year, received over 1000 petitions from residents about noise pollution within the metropolis.
Noting that government would no longer tolerate the situation, the development control boss declared: “Noise pollution remains one of the biggest challenges we have, it has been destroying our city and we cannot allow that to continue. We didn’t say that we will ban noise making, all we are saying is that we must maintain our zoning. We must eliminate noise in Enugu. We will plan the city so that whoever comes into the state can have peace.”
He noted that a sustainable and serene human environment remains a strong driver of human productivity in space and time, adding that there is no such thing as a noise permit from the government.
He explained that while the ECTDA would not shut down religious bodies and clubs located in areas that may have been approved by the government, it would ensure that they introduced acoustic/sound proof for noise control.
“All concerned churches, mosques, bars and clubs must begin the implementation of the policy by removing all speakers positioned outside their buildings,” he said.