国内英语新闻:China issues guideline to create quieter environment

BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's 11 government departments have jointly released a guideline outlining major measures to lessen noise pollution amid rising noise disputes and complaints, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said Tuesday.

The ministry's spokesperson, Tao Detian, said Tuesday the country saw rising complaints about noise pollution, which has caused an increasingly negative impact on the living environment in recent years.

The 26-article guideline focuses on addressing noise pollution in fields including industry, construction, traffic and people's daily lives.

Further, the regulation bans businesses from using acoustic instruments outdoors to lure customers.

Also, heavy noise polluters are banned from entering industrial parks, according to the guideline.

Moreover, motor vehicles should strictly observe speed limits, traffic restrictions and use of auto horns around "noise-sensitive buildings" such as hospitals, schools, government organs, scientific research institutions and residential buildings, it said.

According to the guideline, government departments would also impose higher fines on noise polluters and collect fees for "discharges of excessive noise," in accordance with law.

The newly issued document calls on various government agencies, such as the ministries on environmental protection, science and technology, public security, finance, housing, transportation and railways, to make coordinated efforts to curb pollution.

Further, government organs could launch regular inspection campaigns in major cities, it said.

According to the guideline, government agencies will set up a system to examine sound-proof qualities of civilian buildings and provide a list of major noise pollution sources by the end of this year.

Also, the guideline ordered major cities to establish an automatic noise monitoring system and to equip each city in the country with at least one noise display screen by the end of 2011.