YAOUNDE, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian authorities on Wednesday issued a warning to noise polluters of public concern, including popular dancing activities in public venues in the capital, Yaounde, stating that defaulters will face legal sanctions.
Luc Messi Atangana, Mayor of Yaounde city said, noise nuisance in the city has become unbearable.
"This has got to stop. Noise has become a real nuisance in Yaounde," Atangana said during a crisis meeting with trade union leaders of brewery outlets and the entertainment and leisure sector.
Facts and figures show noise has become a major pollution problem with about 40 percent of environmental protection complaints related to noise in the city, Atangana said.
The government will shut down activities and roadside bars and snacks that do not work to prevent and control noise pollution, officials said.
"We will initiate punitive measures to target noise pollution generated from public activities in places such as public squares," said Emmanuel Mariel Djikdent, Prefect of Mfoundi division where the capital is located.
Serious noise pollution can cause harm to people's nervous systems, and assigning sound environment zones in the city can help control noise pollution and improve residents' daily life and health, environmentalist, Joseph Tabe told Xinhua. ■