The apps will help wards and communes to promptly handle noise pollution inresidential areas. The source of the noise is often from karaoke singing, bothat bars and at homes.
Phan Dinh An, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ward 6, Go Vap district,said local authorities currently have no means to measure the volume level ofthe noise. He said the city should require local authorities to use specificsoftware or apps to measure the noise level.
Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee, saidprevention and control of noise violations was important to maintain securityand ensure tranquillity for residents.
The chairman directed the Department of Natural Resources and Environment totake responsibility and coordinate with the city’s Department of PublicSecurity to urgently research and propose solutions to the problem.
Solutions include a new law, enforcement of the law, education, and massmobilisation. These solutions must be submitted to the chairman of the People'sCommittee by the end of the month.
The city department will deal with noise pollution in two phases. In the firststage, the department will focus on dissemination of information about the law.The second stage will be checking and handling violations.
The city has told communes and wards to hand out administrative penaltiesrelated to noise violations and increase fines. In addition, they should notrestrict the time to handle violations, and should adjust their noiseregulations.
Vo Van Hoan,Vice Chairman of the city’s People's Committee, said that noisepollution had become an urgent problem in the city.
"It is impossible to accept the use of high-powered loudspeakers inresidential areas, restaurants, shops and others," Hoan said.
According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, karaoke noisecomes from both street karaoke and households.
Noise in general arises from many sources: karaoke parlours that are notsoundproofed well, shops selling audio devices, entertainment venues, vendors,restaurants, portable speakers in public places, and those who sing karaoke athome.
Over the last two years, the city sanctioned 141 cases of noise pollutionviolations in 17 districts, collecting over 818 million VND (40,000 USD),according to the department.
Earlier, at a meeting with the chairman of the People's Committee of wards,communes and towns on February 26, Phong said that he had received a lot offeedback about karaoke singing at home.
It is common to hear karaoke in almost every neighbourhood in Vietnam sincemany people prefer to show off in the comfort of their homes instead of akaraoke parlour. This type of activity often takes place during parties, but anactual occasion is not necessary.
While home karaoke can be a joy to some, others consider it a nightmare as thesinging can be deafening and last for hours, even until late at night.
Last October, a man in southern Dong Nai province was stabbed to death by hisneighbour for singing karaoke loudly until near midnight. Similar incidentshave been reported./.
VNA