Beijing municipality would take measures to control the noise pollution caused by road construction and vehicles, according sources at the Beijing Communications Committee.

The large number of vehicles in Beijing, in addition to road construction projects, cause a major noise nuisance, said an official with the committee, adding that his committee will deal with the noise pollution problem in cooperation with the Municipal Construction Committee, Municipal Planning Committee and Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, the official said.

Beijing will take noise reduction into consideration when making road construction plans this year, setting up a special fund for environmental protection in each road building budget, he said.

The Municipal Communications Committee has suggested that the government set up a special fund every year to deal with the noise pollution problems caused by road construction.

One measure which the committee will take will be to help install standardized soundproof windows in buildings which face onto roads, the official explained.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2004)