Bangalore was named the City of Pensioners years ago when it was a peaceful, slumbering city with calm and serenity adding to the greenery with which it was filled. People lived an easy and laidback life in this city that had clean air and quiet surroundings. But it is just not the case now as we all can see for ourselves.

Today, the city is polluted with bad air and heavy noise from all sources. Let's talk about the noise pollution in the city. In the wee hours of the morning, you hear the dull sound of trucks that are making it to the neighboring cities or vehicles entering the city. These vehicles are not allowed to ply on roads in residential areas but who is there to stop them at such unearthly hours?

In some areas, you even have raucous where the entire community comes to fill water from one tap as early as 6.00 in the morning. If you live in such neighborhoods, you know what you are asking for! Come 8.30 am and the roads are filled with vehicles of every size and shape that scream and screech for space. Road hogs keep honking till they make their way past other vehicles, which are equally hasty in reaching their destinations. People add to the din of the vehicles with the odd loud argument claiming who is right and who is wrong.

By 10 am, the city is filled with the noise of vehicles, people and loudspeakers that blare the latest movie songs. One is forced to fear that he would turn deaf with the high levels of noise. I wonder how the elderly people of Bangalore find the city and its din today. The whole day witnesses noise, as it gets worse. I guess, we can do something about this problem but then who's listening???

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