FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers New TRADE AFRICA New

Fortune Logo

The company claims that the system used to measure noise could be inappropriate

Mar 23 , 2019
By TEMESGEN MULUGETA ( FORTUNE STAFF WRITER )

Municipal authorities shut down a local marble factory, DRB International Marble Factory, located in Akaki Qality district for causing noise pollution in the surrounding area.

The Addis Abeba Environmental Protection Authority took the action on March 18, 2019, following complaints filed by residents of the lower-middle income housing condominium development.

Following the grievances, the Authority conducted a sound inspection of the seven-year-old company and measured the loudness of the sound using decibel meters.



The decision was based on noise levels measured at 71 decibels, higher than the 55-decibel limit for residential areas, according to Baye Tolosa, environmental director of the Authority.

“We had issued a warning letter several times for them to reduce the sound pollution,” said Baye.


The first warning letter to the factory was issued on December 4, 2018.

The 30-million-Br factory that occupies 1,100Sqm of land produces between 150Sqm to 200Sqm of marble a day and has 100 employees.



The factory disagrees with the Authority's findings. “The inspection officer used a mobile phone application, which showed the 71-decibel result, and a sound meter that recorded only 54,” said Dawit Tsegaye, general manager of the company.

Sound decibel meters are used to measure sound in daily life, while noise decibel meters are used to measure noise.


A letter that forewarned the factory to reduce the noise within two days was received on March 15, 2019.


“We are appealing the issue to the Authority, for there is a possibility that the mobile application may be outdated,” said Dawit.

The Authority, which insists that no other means of measurement but a sound meter can be used, is willing to look into the allegation made by the factory.

Residents of the area are appreciative of the decision of the Authority.

“We have been made to live with the loud sound of the factory,” says Tsion Assefa, one of the residents in the area that have seconded the decision given by the Authority.

Experts also applaud the measure taken by the Authority.


Loud sound pollution will cause health and psychological problems, according to Messay Mulugeta (PhD), lecturer and researcher of socio-economic development and environmental study for nearly two decades at Addis Abeba University.

“Especially children are more sensitive to noise pollution as it harms them from hearing and affects their IQ," Messay said.

The plant will be open under the circumstance when the factory fulfils the normal standards and minimises sound pollution to the acceptable level, according to Baye.

The Authority has shut down 50-night clubs and restaurants last year. Four months ago the Authority shut down 14 nightclubs in the Gerji, area accusing them of creating sound pollution.

It also closed the doors of 20 nightclubs within the city in this fiscal year, most of them located in Bole District, Summit area.


PUBLISHED ON Mar 23,2019 [ VOL 19 , NO 986]

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.



Related Posts

Editors' Pick

Agenda

Rising Costs, Inflation Threaten Insurance Industry

Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO

Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...

Fortune News

Electric Vehicle Push Leaves Investors in the Lurch

Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO

Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transportin...

Fortune News

Study Reveals Higher Education Quality Crisis, Calls for Reform

Jul 13 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU

The cracks in Ethiopia's higher education system were laid bare during a synthesis re...

Fortune News

Authority Bets on Price Adjustment Manual to Tackle Construction Delays

Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO

Construction authorities have unveiled a price adjustment implementation manual for s...

Commentaries

Flower Exports Contested Despite UKs Tariff Break, as Rivals Thrive

When the United Kingdom (UK) exited the European Union (EU), it introduced tariffs on...

Climate Action Essential Rise Above Politics

This year's United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan's capital...

Fineline

Leaders of the National . . .

Leaders of the National Election Board are in a charm offensive mood, of a sort. Last week, they organised a rare tour for members of the me...

When the country’s most. . .

When the country's most senior diplomats and envoys return back to their posts after two-week debriefings, they leave behind a point or two...

Editorial

Bound by Debt, Government's Costly Love Affair with State Bloat

Nov 16 , 2024

In the realm of public finance, balance sheets speak louder than rhetoric. In such do...

Policy Bargain in Franco Valuta a Double-Edged Sword in the Forex Debacle

Nov 9 , 2024

Ethiopia's foreign exchange debacle resembles a tangled web of contradictions and con...

Addis Abeba Withering as Noise, Air Pollutions Choke the 'New Flower'

Nov 2 , 2024

Addis Abeba, fondly dubbed a 'New Flower,' is wilting under the weight of unchecked u...

Mercato Inferno Lays Bare Ethiopia's Vulnerabilities to Disasters

Oct 26 , 2024

When flames devoured parts of Mercato, residents watched helplessly as decades of toi...

Gallery

Parliament Approves New Cabinet Members

Oct 6 , 2021

Parliament Approves New Cabinet, Incorporates Opposition Leaders Lawmakers have approved today the nominations of 22 ministers, including three opposition leaders. Two MPs have voted against, while 12 abstained...

2020 in Posterity

Jan 5 , 2021

TIGRAY VOTES DESPITE "NULL & VOID" THREAT

Sep 9 , 2020

IN-PICTURE: LAUREATE'S RECEPTION  

Dec 14 , 2019

PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) at a Gala Dinner Called for the Awarding of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize

May 6 , 2019

Faces, Voices of Addis Abeba

Apr 26 , 2019

Sunday With Eden

Finding My Body Back, A Year Later

For many women, becoming a mother is a transformative experience that reshapes our priorities, self-perception, and connection to our bodies...

Mud-slinging Supermarkets Time for a Wash-up

At least four days a week, my family and I visit supermarkets in the capital to buy groceries. We frequen...

Life Matters

Human Face of Public Service

There are certain promises we make to ourselves—things we swear never to do again. I had made such a promise about taking the city bus. An...

Spinning Hope of Digital Services

Digital services have become integral to our daily lives, offering unparalleled convenience and efficiency. From mobile banking to online sh...

Back
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email