The average Malayali is well aware of various forms of pollution and the health hazards stemming from them. But it seems many are clueless when it comes to noise pollution. The Indian Medical Association (IMA), in association with the National Initiative for Safe Sound (NISS), is launching an intensive campaign to drive home the dangers from noise pollution. As part of the initiative, a month-long sound mapping drive will be carried out in various parts of the district with the help of the State government, Association of Otolaryngologists of India (AOI), Motor Vehicles Department, Kollam City police, Rotary Club and Lion's Club. “In a recent study conducted in Kochi, up to 94 dB were registered in industrial areas, which is much beyond the permissible level of 65 dB. According to our assumption, the situation in Kollam will be no different,” says J. Sreekumar, IMA district chairman. "As part of the campaign the IMA has been observing No Horn Day on April 26 since 2016. “We plan to spread more awareness among the public and gradually transform Kollam to a no horn city by 2025,” he adds. The IMA will be measuring the levels of sound pollution in various parts of the district from next week to collect data for a State-level survey. Dosimeters to record the noise will be given to the traffic police and others in all points including Karunagapally, Kottarakara and Punalur where vehicle inflow is maximum. “The sound level is expected to be above 100 dB in Kollam,” says Dr Sreekumar. District Collector S. Karthikeyan will inaugurate the No Horn Day observance on April 26 at Chinnakkada. On the occasion Kollam Mayor V Rajendrababu will officially declare the stretch from Chinnakkada to Kadappakkada as no horn zone. In connection with the event, the Hear and Speak audiology centre will conduct free hearing test for light and sound operators at Kadappakkada