A number of residents of Helmand province say noise pollution in the province is increasing day by day and has caused them serious problems.
Mohammad Omid, a Helmand resident, says: “One of the main sources of noise pollution in Lashkargah city is the use of loudspeakers by shopkeepers, loud motorcycle mufflers, and sound systems installed in military and private vehicles. The loud noise from these devices has severely disturbed the city’s residents and has even deprived them of the chance to live peacefully in their own homes. Unfortunately, despite the growth of this problem, the responsible institutions have so far taken no serious action to prevent it, and people struggle with this issue every day.”
Habibullah, another resident of Lashkargah, also complains of similar problems. He says noise pollution in the province is increasing day by day and has caused serious problems for the city’s residents. According to him, the noise from roadside cart vendors, handcarts, large vehicles, and motorcycles in central Lashkargah has created severe noise pollution and disrupted people’s peace.
This Lashkargah resident says: “From very early in the morning, vendors wake people up with loud voices. Sometimes they call on people to buy water and sometimes to buy other goods, without considering that there may be someone sick in a house. People suffer greatly from this situation, and no one stops it. From early morning, they disturb people’s peace of mind by making noise in the alleys, and when people go into the city, the same situation continues.”
Esmatullah, another resident of Lashkargah, says noise pollution has caused problems for his nervous system. According to him, many people have developed psychological problems because of unnecessary noise in the city.
This Helmand resident says: “The level of noise pollution in Lashkargah has risen to such an extent that it has negatively affected people’s daily lives and peace of mind. I myself work in vehicle tire repair, and I am exposed to loud and varied noises every day. For this reason, I am worried about people’s nervous and psychological problems. We have raised our problems with the municipality several times, but so far no specific action has been taken to prevent this situation. Now the situation has become such that the sounds we hear during the day are repeated in our minds at night, and I do not even feel like talking to my family members at home.”
Dr. Mohammad Rashid (pseudonym), a specialist in mental illnesses in Helmand province, says noise pollution causes mental fatigue, nervous strain, and reduced concentration. He adds that prolonged exposure to loud noise can also negatively affect people’s hearing. According to him, the use of loud devices must be limited to prevent noise pollution, and serious attention must be paid to protecting people’s peace and health.
This doctor says: “People who live or work in noisy environments every day may, over time, face nervous strain, mental fatigue, and sleep problems. Loud and continuous noises reduce the ability to concentrate, and if this situation continues, they may also damage the sense of hearing. To reduce this problem, the use of loudspeakers and other loud devices must be placed under clear regulations, because protecting people’s health and peace is an important necessity.”
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
افزایش آلودهگی صوتی در هلمند؛ باشندهگان از نبود مرجع رسیدهگی به این مشکل شکایت دارند
