A sound decision

The Supreme Court last week extended the deadline for the use of loudspeakers after considering a motion filed by the Cine Oscar Foundation. Accordingly, the present 10 p.m. deadline on the use of loudspeakers will be extended to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at half past midnight on Sundays.

In their motion Cine Oscar claimed that the present night ban on loudspeakers greatly hindered staging outdoor musical shows, which had posed a problem for professional musicians and artistes who made a living out of these events.

In addition since the war is now over the public should be given an opportunity to enjoy musical entertainment, the motion said. Currently loudspeaker usage is banned between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on all days, following an earlier Supreme Court ruling. But it was allowed during this period only under a special licence issued by the police.

Musicians and entertainment lovers will no doubt welcome this verdict. It is true that musicians suffered as a result of the night loudspeaker ban. Daytime concerts simply do not offer the 'ambience' that night-time concerts offer. The 10 p.m. cut off time is still too early in the day, so to speak, for the music to end. Moreover, it is only at night that lighting effects, the lasers and the dances can be truly appreciated. Other noises and sounds are generally absent at night, intensifying the focus on the music.

Thousands of musicians and their families around the country depend on these musical shows for a living. Organised mostly by radio and television channels and carnival organisers, the weekend musical shows attract thousands of people from all walks of life and from all age groups.

They all gather at a musical show to seek some respite from their busy lives. Music gives them relief from the daily grind and it is unfair to deprive them of such entertainment, which is mostly free. True, there are plenty of musical programs on radio and television, but they cannot equal a live performance in any way.

However, the organisers of these shows and musicians must not use this verdict carte blanche. They must strictly adhere to the time limit specified in the judgment and end their shows promptly despite calls from the audience to go on, as is usual at musical shows. That will also enable the police to engage in their duties (crowd control, security) without any hassle. The police should ensure that the shows end peacefully and on time. After all, many incidents of violence are reported from musical shows.

Musicians should also consider the environs before organising a musical show. If the venue is in a heavily residential area, they can consider shifting it to another venue.

They should also install just the right number of loudspeakers needed for a given playground or open air theatre. If the playground is small, there is no need to install the number of speakers needed for a vast stadium. In most other countries, only closed (indoor) stadia are allowed to host musical shows. This may always be not possible in our country, as only a few cities have good auditorium facilities.

But where possible, musical shows should be held in such 'soundproof' facilities which can contain the sounds. This does not disturb those who do not wish to listen to the proceedings.

Noise pollution is still prevalent in most of our cities despite the best efforts of authorities to curb it. Vehicles, lottery sellers and three-wheelers all combine to create an unbearable cacophony. It was recently announced that action would be taken against so-called 'record bar' three-wheelers which play music at very loud levels, disturbing and annoying other road users. We do not know whether this is being implemented yet, but it is a commendable move. It should be implemented countrywide.

The public has little or no knowledge of the acceptable decibel (dB) levels, which is how noise levels are measured. What they need to know is that exposure to very high noise levels can ultimately damage their hearing. The authorities should publicise acceptable decibel levels, with an easy-to-comprehend comparison chart.

For example, a whisper-quiet library is rated at 30 dB while city traffic is rated at 85 dB. The level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss is just 95 dB, which is actually less than the sound a motorcycle makes at 100 dB. A loud concert or musical show is rated at 115-120 dB, which is really equivalent to sandblasting.

A sustained exposure at this level will adversely affect hearing. A jet engine even 100 feet away is rated at 140 dB. The public should be educated on these noise levels.Indeed, hearing protection must be taken more seriously. Many of our factories do not provide hearing protection (enclosed noise cancelling headphones) for their workers. This could eventually lead to the partial or total loss of hearing. Workplace safety laws must be implemented without delay in this regard.

Parents must also keep an eye on their children listening to iPods, Walkmans and similar gadgets via headphones at very loud volumes for several hours at a stretch. Prolonged exposure to headphone music (around 95 dB) can damage hearing permanently. It is best to listen to headphone music at lower volumes, intermittently.

People must always be mindful of their neighbours' sensitivities.

They should not play the radio, stereo or television at very loud volumes especially at night, when sounds are carried far. In most other countries, neighbours complain to the Police, who arrive within minutes and advise the householders in question. The culture here is different and people do not wish to offend their neighbours even if the noise is unbearable.

But all should make it a point to ensure that sounds do not seep outside and disturb others. After all, the next door neighbours may be sleeping or their child could be studying. It is worth remembering that there is a limit to everything in life. Sound is no exception to this rule. Life is worth celebrating and music is an elixir, but it helps if you keep the volume down.