Construction noise, as well as loud parties or decoration work at night will become illegal according to a second draft of a revised environmental protection law announced yesterday.

The draft also will make illegal the city's outdoor advert lights that disturb nearby residents.

"We have noticed that indoor noise in residential areas severely affects people," Ding Wei, a member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai People's Congress, the city's top legislative body, said during a regular meeting of the committee.

He said as the population density increases downtown, the government should do more to inhibit all kinds of noise pollution.

According to the draft, both construction at night and construction during the university entrance exam period each June will be considered a violation of its noise clause. Organizations in charge of those projects will face a penalty up to 100,000 yuan (US$12,345).

It's also illegal for families to produce too much noise, such as singing or loud music, at private gatherings. Decorating apartments at certain hours will also be prohibited. Lawmakers have not yet decided the hours the law will be in effect.

There is no concrete punishment for offenders, but officials said the government would take other administrative measures to improve noise control.

Huang Guiqin, a doctor of Shanghai Huashan Hospital, said: "I think the law should include more concrete penalties to punish families and entertainment organizations which make constant noise."

The committee members are planning to vote on the draft tomorrow.

As for light pollution from advert billboards, the draft states the city's environmental protection authority will be responsible for rectifying improper lighting equipment.

Also in the meeting, the committee discussed the city's first law to provide legal aid to poor people.

(Shanghai Daily October 27, 2005)