Himachal to promote no-honking drive

Shimla March 3 (IANS) The government will launch a no-honking campaign in Himachal Pradesh to spread awareness regarding the health hazards from honking by motorists it was announced on Saturday.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Nanda in Shimla.

She said it had been felt that unnecessary honking was not only a public nuisance causing inconvenience to the people but also reflects how sensitive "we are towards our environment and the other living beings".

Nanda said that noise was not merely a nuisance but also a serious environmental problem and a health hazard.

A lack of awareness about noise pollution caused by honking and its detrimental impact on human health and behaviour was a major concern which needs to be redressed at the earliest she said.

According to Nanda a massive information campaign for sensitising drivers taxi unions bus and truck drivers and school students would also be carried effectively.

She said a campaign would be launched in the first phase in Shimla and Manali towns and would cover other urban areas of the state in a phased manner.

--IANS
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