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Environment Noise Disturbance

There are ways to both preserve wildlife in the Everest region and not to disrupt high-end tourism

One of Nepal’s main tourist destinations, the Everest region, welcomes thousands of trekkers, mountaineers, and upscale (luxury) travelers each year. As popular as trekking and mountain climbing, helicopter sightseeing offers visitors who are prepared to shell out a lot of money to get a close-up look at the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest. The nation’s economy as a whole, local companies, hotels, and airlines all gain a great deal from these sightseeing excursions. However, the Sagarmatha National Park has made the decision to outright prohibit helicopter sightseeing tours in the area as of January 1, 2025. Stakeholders are engaged in a heated discussion as a result.

There is a darker side to this ostensibly profitable tourism practice. Although they help with tourism in the national park and its environs, helicopters are bad for the wild animals that live in the comparatively untouched parts of the park. During the busiest travel seasons, spring and fall, there are more than 6,000 helicopter flights in the Everest region, according to official data. These flights disturb the feeding and breeding habits of the wildlife and contribute to excessive noise pollution. The Himalayan Goral and Tahr are especially vulnerable to low-flying helicopters. The sudden, loud noises of the choppers are causing some animals to jump off the cliffs and die, according to park sources. Others are escaping their native areas and wandering into neighboring villages, where they cause problems for the local population.

Therefore, it makes sense that the park is concerned about wildlife. The rarest animals in the world, such as red pandas and snow leopards, can be found there. It is impossible to ignore the importance of protecting these creatures since it supports wildlife tourism and preserves biodiversity. Park officials claim that they took this action for additional reasons, such as the accidental landing of the helicopters and their suspicion that wildlife contraband was being transported. However, given that it will impact tourism in the area, the sudden and capricious way the ban was implemented is worrisome. The ban, which was imposed without consultation or consideration of other options, has drawn criticism from tour operators, helicopter companies, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the nation’s civil aviation regulator. Additionally, the CAAN has made it clear that the park lacks the legal authority to impose such a ban.

Nepal’s tourism industry is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Union’s extension of its ban on Nepali airlines has made matters worse. Business owners who have made tourism-related investments continue to lose a lot of money. High-end tourism offerings, such as helicopter sightseeing, could save the struggling industry at this point. Therefore, instead of placing blame on one another, the park and civil aviation authorities ought to look for areas of agreement and choose a more impartial strategy.

Establishing designated flight corridors away from conservation areas or sensitive wildlife habitats may be a workable way to reduce noise pollution, as experts have recommended. Monitoring efforts in the area should be stepped up, and the aviation watchdog should hold the operators responsible if the national park authority’s worries about illegal trafficking and unplanned landings are sincere. Our economy depends heavily on both wildlife and tourism, so a delicate balance between the two must be maintained. We think that they can coexist if a little more consideration is given.

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Environment Noise Disturbance Noise Pollution

Religious authorities will examine complaints about loudspeaker noise at the mosque in KL

Dec. 8, Kuala Nerus — A mosque in the capital city has been accused of using loudspeakers at excessive volumes during religious lectures, allegedly disturbing the peace in the area. The complaints will be examined by the relevant religious authorities.

Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, the deputy minister in the prime minister’s department of religious affairs, said he was confident that the authorities could manage the situation and promised the ministry’s assistance if necessary.

“A suitable framework is in place, and the religious authorities have jurisdiction over this issue. We will deal with any problems as they come up,” he stated.

Anything that disturbs the peace is not what we want. Insha’Allah, we’ll manage this sensibly and make sure the community doesn’t experience any discomfort. He declared during the Madani Prihatin program, which included a group cleanup of Sekolah Rendah Islam Al-Amin today, that “investigations and reviews will be conducted.”

Zulkifli was reacting to a widely shared social media complaint regarding a Kuala Lumpur mosque that was allegedly making the locals uncomfortable by using loud speakers during religious lectures.

In order to preserve peace in the community, he also counseled all religious organizations to be aware of local sensitivities, including the effect of their operations.

Additionally, he emphasized that 14 religious affairs organizations, including the Skuad Musa’adah Al-Falah Madani, and about 10,000 registered volunteers from the Islamic Dakwah Foundation Malaysia (YADIM) have been mobilized to provide post-flood relief efforts across the country. — Bernama

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Environment Noise Disturbance Noise Pollution

Airports of Thailand (AoT) intends to compensate locals affected by noise pollution with 12 billion baht

Residents affected by noise pollution from Suvarnabhumi Airport’s third and newest runway will receive 12 billion baht in compensation from Airports of Thailand (AoT).

In response to residents’ inquiries regarding the compensation they sought for the noise caused by aircraft using the recently opened runway at the nation’s main airport, a number of agencies, including the AoT, the Transport Ministry, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, discussed the matter on Monday.

A decision was made regarding the most reasonable rate in accordance with the law, according to Kittiphon Ruayfuphan, deputy spokesman for the Transport Ministry.

Residents who are impacted by noise belong to various categories. Residents whose land ownership is problematic, those who are legally entitled to compensation, and those who are technically ineligible for any kind of financial assistance are all included.

According to Mr. Kittiphon, residents who meet the payout requirements will get their money when the rate is decided.


Assistance will be provided to those with troublesome land ownership in order to get their paperwork in order and be eligible to get their compensation.


According to Mr. Kittiphon, those who reside near the third runway but do not own the residential property they occupy may be eligible for compensation once the Pollution Control Department performs an assessment and verifies that they are indeed impacted by the noise pollution.

According to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) council chairman Surajit Phongsingwitthaya, locals complained to the BMA about the noise problem.

The BMA requested updates from the Transport Ministry and the AoT regarding the problem’s resolution after the complaints were filed.

For residents who haven’t applied for compensation yet, the BMA is serving as a middleman to provide information on how to do so.

Mr. Surajit stated that the authorities were reviewing the petitions more quickly, even though they need to be thoroughly screened for fairness.

The council chairman anticipates that residents will be able to access the first round of compensation early in the following year.

On the western side of Suvarnabhumi Airport, the third runway was constructed parallel to the first runway and measures four kilometers in length and sixty meters in width. It can now handle 94 planes per hour, up from the previous 68, and will mostly be used for planes landing at the airport.

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Asia Noise News Home Noise Disturbance

A man claims that for the past four months, his rude neighbor has been making a lot of noise in the morning and evening by hammering and drilling

SINGAPORE: After four months of extremely loud noise from his careless neighbor, a man vented on social media.

The man detailed his experience in a post on Reddit’s Ask Singapore forum, stating that he has been regularly awakened by loud hammering sounds emanating from his ceiling at approximately 6 to 7 a.m.

Additionally, he stated that this sporadic sound can last for approximately 30 minutes, occasionally lasting into the afternoon or even as late as 10 p.m., and it happens every 1 to 2 minutes.

He added that the neighbor who lives above him regularly uses large equipment that “resembles a drill, though it may also be a saw or similar equipment” in addition to the hammering.

He wrote, “He usually waits until 10 a.m. before beginning to drill, but on weekends he may begin at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. or operate it in 1-second bursts at 6-7 a.m.”

He has also attempted to resolve the matter by leaving several notes expressing his concerns at his neighbor’s door at around six in the morning, but to no avail.

He wakes me up all the time. He said, “I left another angry note at their door, and this person started hammering at 5 a.m. today, to the point where I have multiple nightmares.”

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Asia Noise News Home Noise Disturbance

A man who moved into an apartment next to Bukit Merah claims that he is a neighbor from hell and that he can only sleep in the living room

When a man realized he was living next to a “neighbor from hell,” his excitement about moving into a new house was dampened.

According to Shin Min Daily News, 55-year-old Lin has called the police four times in less than six months because he can’t stand the loud music coming into his Bukit Merah apartment.

She frequently turns up the volume on the radio, and I can hear the music coming from my bedroom. The salesperson stated that the music occasionally lasted from the evening until the following afternoon.

“Apart from the music, she often slams the door in the middle of the night, and the ‘bang’ sound would jolt me from sleep.”

Lin provided voice recordings and videos that show loud music playing all night long.

The woman’s apartment is directly next to Lin’s bedroom, so the noise from her house has been disturbing his sleep.

“Over the past few weeks, the situation has gotten worse, even though I purchased headphones to help block out some of the noise. Now I’m limited to sleeping in the living room,” he remarked.

Lin clarified that the prior homeowner had not brought up the noise disturbance issue, so he was ignorant of it.

They admitted to selling the apartment due to the female neighbor when he got in touch with them again.

“She told me the wall is too thin and the problem is not her fault, even though all I asked was that she turn down the volume.

Later on, she even cursed at me. I hope she can control her music consumption, but I’m not stopping her,” Lin remarked.

“I’m not sure if I can handle this any longer. There are times when I would rather work than stay home.

Although he has considered selling the apartment, Lin stated that he only moved in less than a year ago and is concerned that the noise disturbance will affect the next tenant as well.

The neighbor in question refused to comment when Shin Min approached him.

The woman was once referred to as Punggol’s “neighbour from hell” and reportedly forced six families to relocate in just two years, according to Bukit Merah residents.

According to The Straits Times in 2019, these families accused the woman of stomping on the floor, playing loud music, splashing oil at their doors, and even leaving a bloody pig’s ear on a shoe rack.

However, she had denied all accusations towards her in a follow-up interview with Lianhe Wanbao, and claimed the circulated videos of her were edited.

The woman subsequently moved to Bukit Merah in 2020, where she purportedly continued harassing residents there by playing loud music.

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Environment Home Noise-th

Dust and noise disturbance from a luxurious condo in Pattaya

The construction of a luxurious condominium in the Taphra Ya 9-15 area of Pattaya, which will rise more than 60 stories, has alarmed locals and rental operators.

Residents have been inconvenienced by the dust and noise from the construction site for more than two years, but local authorities have not offered any support.

52-year-old Taphra Ya 9 business owner Chalida voiced her annoyance, saying the construction has resulted in constant noise and dust problems. She said that because of the intolerable noise levels, which can occasionally last until midnight, many residents are slowly leaving.

Chalida gave reporters video footage showing the detrimental effects of the noise and dust from the construction site, as well as her unsuccessful attempts to lodge complaints with the Pattaya City Council and other authorities.

 

Those living on the seventh floor, which has been completely evacuated because of the noise and dust from the cement pouring on the nearby streets, are in an especially bad situation.

 

The extent of the issue was demonstrated by the thick dust layers that reporters saw on windows and floors, as well as the cracks in the surrounding buildings.

Additionally, the widespread dust has caused respiratory problems for housekeepers and employees, requiring the constant use of face masks. No agency has intervened to address these health issues in spite of their difficulties.

 

Chonburi MP Yodchai Phungporn recently paid a visit to the location to hear the complaints of locals and business owners.

 

According to Siam Rath, he intends to bring their grievances about the dust and noise to the Land and Environment Committee of the House of Representatives for additional action.

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Asia Noise News Environment Home Noise Disturbance

Residents of Sengkang lament the “exceptionally” loud aircraft noise in the neighborhood.

Imagine being unable to focus while working from home because of the continuous, loud whooshes of airplanes passing overhead.

Alson, a Sengkang resident, shared his issues with noise on Xiao Hong Shu.

“This part of Sengkang is too noisy,” he wrote. I’m not sure if anyone can relate. I work from home and recently moved here. I counted five or six planes flying overhead in a half hour. They were most likely jets based on the unusually loud noise.

One of the nearby apartments is also undergoing renovations, which exacerbates the situation. His living conditions are almost intolerable due to the noise from the jets and the chaos from the renovations.

“I won’t have to go to any more online meetings if the plane noises continue. Does the same noise occur in other neighborhoods as well? Andn was added.

Because netizens from Punggol, Potong Pasir, Buangkok, and Hougang have chimed in to share similar experiences, it appears that Alson’s experience is not unique to him.

“I live in Punggol, and it’s just as noisy here,” one internet user complained. Every time I hear the noise, my cat is startled awake. The noise level at Greenwich Drive, where I work, is extremely high. There are times when you can even feel the building trembling a little. It’s a waste of time that we frequently have to halt our meetings for a short while [because of the loud noise].

Alson may not be able to see the jets from his place, but he can definitely hear them
Alson may not be able to see the jets from his place, but he can definitely hear them

Some residents claimed that they had “already gotten used to the noise” despite the numerous complaints from unhappy residents.

One netizen wrote, “No choice, you can either live with it or move away,” while another recommended that impacted residents consider “soundproofing their houses.”

But who’s going to foot the bill?

The affected areas appear to be close to the Paya Lebar Air Base, and it is likely that the sounds were produced by Air Force jets during training.

Additionally, some stated that they “don’t mind the noise at all” because it serves as a reminder of the Singapore Air Force’s tireless efforts to maintain national security.

In an interview with 8days.sg, a resident of Punggol’s Northshore estate confirmed that she frequently hears “super noisy planes.”

The Paya Lebar Airbase will be “relocated nearer to the coast from 2030 onwards, reducing the number of RSAF planes flying overhead Punggol residents,” claimed Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Yeo Wan Ling in a 2023 statement.
That’s still six years off, though.

Maybe you should look into other options first if you have your sights set on a home in any of the neighborhoods listed above.

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Asia Noise News Home Noise Disturbance

Singapore named one of the noisiest cities in the world, according to survey

A city’s sounds are what give it its identity.

However, certain locations are noisier than others.

Singapore came in ninth place in a survey by the US online language-learning platform Preply, suggesting that it is among the top 10 loudest cities in the world.

Hong Kong, New York City, and Paris are at the top of the list.

Seoul is ranked tenth, and Tokyo is ranked eighth among the other Asian cities mentioned.

Preply developed a seedlist of the world’s largest cities and then used metrics like population density, noise pollution levels, and even the quantity of attraction reviews that mentioned terms like “loud” and “noisy” to rank them.

Another factor is the average amount of time spent in traffic; according to the survey, people here spend 41 minutes stuck in traffic.

According to the survey, Singapore has a population density of 11,000 persons per square kilometer. However, a brief lookup on SingStat indicates that as of 2023, there are 8,058 people per square kilometer.

 

According to the study, these metrics were derived from sources such as nomadlist.com, numbeo.com and tripadvisor.co.uk.

 

On the other end of the spectrum, the survey ranks Frankfurt, Munich and Amsterdam as the quietest cities.

Only one Asian city has made it onto this list — Kyoto.

 

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Asia Noise News

Asia’s Largest Soundproof Bridge, Constructed in MP’s Seoni with an enormous budget of Rs 960 crore, severely damaged

The largest soundproof bridge in Asia, built on National Highway 44 in the Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh, has sustained significant damage as a result of persistent rain. A private company spent an enormous Rs 960 crores building the bridge. Several reports state that the repair work is presently in progress, which is leading to frequent traffic jams on the highway that links Kashmir and Kanyakumari.

The bridge, which connects Seoni and Nagpur and is close to the Pench Tiger Reserve, was built with 14 wildlife underpasses and light reducers to reduce noise pollution. The bridge is 29 kilometers long and was built at a cost of ₹960 crores by the private company Dilip Buildcon. Five years after construction, the structure started to show signs of damage despite a ten-year guarantee; cracks and broken sections were noticed after intense rains.

The company in charge of building the highway has temporarily stopped traffic while they work on repairs. Given the substantial investment required, the early deterioration raises questions about the bridge’s durability and the engineering’s efficacy.

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Environment

Khao Yai National Park is strict about cars making loud noises

Thailand’s NAKHON RATCHASIMA – In reaction to infractions by tourists, Khao Yai National Park has tightened restrictions on vehicle speed and noise levels. Checkpoints have been erected to keep an eye on cars, primarily those whose engine and exhaust noise levels are higher than allowed.

At least 22 people have been taken into custody by the authorities thus far; these include 17 drivers who were found to be speeding over the 60 km/h limit and five motorcycle riders whose noise levels exceeded the 95 decibel limit. The National Park Act and its implementing regulations have resulted in fines for those found in violation.

Officials from the park have warned visitors that these regulations will be strictly adhered to. Riders on motorcycles are asked to make sure their cars aren’t tuned to make too much noise, and everyone driving through the park is asked to keep to the posted speed limits.

For the sake of both visitor safety and the preservation of the park’s wildlife, it is imperative that these rules be strictly adhered to. (NNT)

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