Dubai
There is a difference between the definitions of sound and noise. Merriam dictionary defines sound as an auditory impression, whereas noise is a loud or unpleasant form of that sound. And when there is a construction site located in your neighbourhood or consistent traffic congestion in your vicinity, noise can be an issue.
Gulf News reader Natallia Bondar, a resident of Sharjah’s Al Nahda area, called the newspaper to complain about construction noise in her community.
She said: “The construction site is located in a residential area. The residents experience noise pollution, which starts at 5.30am and sometimes continuous through the night. The construction began six months ago and it seems like the contractor has been violating the rules of construction timings. We contacted their office, too, and were told that the noise would be taken care of, but nothing has been done.”
Bondar said that the noise is disturbing her sleep cycle and affecting her concentration at work.
She said: “I don’t know what to do. I just want to sleep properly in the apartment for which I pay rent. It seems like the construction company makes the most noise from 5.30 to 8am. Why can’t they do the same work after 8am? Even if I move to another building, what is the guarantee a new construction site will not come up next to it within a few months?”
Rahul Dutt also resides in the same area and has the same complaint.
He said: “Construction work goes on beyond midnight and there is continuous movement of trucks during the night. The worst is when they are involved in some sort of cutting and handling of metal. The sound is so loud that I cannot even sleep.”
Catherine Nisha, a resident in Dubai’s Al Rigga area, also complained about construction noise in her area.
She said: “These days, we hear the sound of both construction and demolition of old buildings. There are two construction sites nearby. One is close to the Al Rigga Metro Station. Now they are nearing completion stage, so it’s not that noisy. But, the demolition continues at night and during the weekends. It starts as early as 7am and disturbs our sleep. The drilling bothers us the most. We hope the companies have some deadline to finish the work.”
Neola Castelino, a resident of Sharjah’s Abu Shagara area, raised concern over a different type of noise pollution — honking.
She said: “The main issue in my community is the continuous honking by drivers of various types of vehicles. This is due to the number of used car shops. The owners stop motorists that are driving past and try to make a sale or purchase. This causes traffic congestion and the frustrated motorists start sounding the horns of their vehicles. It is so inconvenient for the residents of the area.”
Castelino is glad that this issue is being looked into. Shop owners at the Abu Shagara used car market are slowly moving to a new market, Souq Al Haraj, which is being opened behind Auto Village on Mohammad Bin Zayed Road.
She said: “This is a good step, but there are still many showrooms remaining. Construction noise is also creating trouble. In the area, there are always loud noises created by drills and other construction equipment. If we walk close to the construction site, we can actually feel the vibrations on the ground. Additionally, at midnight, the municipality truck comes by to collect garbage and the noise it creates is so loud that it disturbs the residents who are fast asleep. Some people come home late after their night shifts and make a lot of noise in the building corridors. I’m sure that all these forms of noise pollution have their own side effects and could create health issues and sleeping disorders.”
Prerana Pai, a resident of Sharjah’s King Faisal Road, is bothered by the current road project.
She said: “The road is being refurbished and the demolition of the old road and the construction of the new one is being carried out thoughtfully, making sure not to cause any major disturbance to the residents nearby. However, sometimes I can feel the ground below me shaking and the first time I honestly thought it was an earthquake and told my parents that we should leave the building, before realising the cause of the vibrations. I look forward to when the project is complete because then the area would have a better road and the sound of the traffic might also be minimised due to the road widening.”
Ammar Zarrouq, a resident of Abu Dhabi’s Mohammad Bin Zayed City, raised the issue of noise created by airplanes.
He said: “During these days, we are suffering from noise pollution in my area. Additionally, even when I go to visit my cousin in Dubai’s Mirdif area, airplanes are doing a good job of waking us up several times in the middle of the night.”
Giles Heaton, a resident of Dubai Marina, requested authorities to install soundproof windows in residential buildings.
He said: “In Dubai Marina, there are noises of every imaginable kind. I request building management to look into building regulations. The windows they install in the buildings need to be checked because how they’re currently put in are terrible for soundproofing.”
