Kerala to observe no-honking day on April 26

Kerala will observe April 26, the International Noise Awareness Day, as no-honk day. The move aims to spread awareness on the impact of noise on health and welfare of people. 
 

Noise pollution is a major trigger for various ailments including cardiac issues, Dr C John Panicker, National Convenor of National Initiative for Safe Sound (NISS) said. Indian Medical Association is campaigning against noise pollution and has decided to appeal to the whole country to observe April 26 as no-honk day. 
 

Inaugurating the campaign of IMA, Cooperative and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran appealed to the people of Kerala to make the initiative a success. "It is not an easy task, but we should try not to blow a single horn on the day," the minister said. 
 

"Kerala government had made it a state initiative. Actor Mohanlal is the brand ambassador. People should dissuade from senseless honking. Noise pollution is the number one reason leading to permanent hearing loss and health issues like acidity, stress and heart-related ailments," Panicker said. 
 

Some of the vehicles are producing sound between 100 to 120 decibels, which is extremely harmful to human health. Studies have shown that exposure to above 80 decibels for eight hours a day for eight years will lead to permanent deafness. There is an urgent need to curb noise pollution from traffic as it leads to various issues ranging from irritability to high blood pressure, ENT surgeon M V Jagade said. 

• International Noise Awareness Day
• April 26
• no-honk day