Processions at Opera House were noisiest

MUMBAI: Ganesh processions on the last day of immersions flouted noise pollution norms blatantly, with the area outside Opera House junction, south Mumbai, being

MUMBAI: Ganesh processions on the last day of immersions flouted noise pollution norms blatantly, with the area outside Opera House junction, south Mumbai, being the noisiest at 116.4 decibels (dB), for the second consecutive year.

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Awaaz Foundation, which recorded noise levels from processions in the city and suburbs, identified mandals that violated noise rules by playing loudspeakers till 1am early Friday morning, an hour past the permissible time frame, at Girgaum Chowpatty.

High noise levels were also recorded at Prabhadevi (114 dB), SV Road, near the Juhu airfield, (112.2 dB) and Worli (112 dB).

This year’s Ganeshotsav was less noisy compared to previous years, activists said. Last year, the area outside Opera House junction had recorded 123.7dB while noise levels on the final day of the festival were 114 dB at Juhu and Dadar in 2014.

According to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, residential and silence zones should have a maximum noise level of 55dB and 50dB in the day and 45dB and 40dB at the night. “Fewer DJs were used and volumes were reduced this year,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation. “However, the highest noise levels were from metal plates and drums. Mandals of political parties continued non-essential announcements for hours beyond the deadline at very high decibel levels.”

She added that noise rules were violated at all silence zones except Shivaji Park, Dadar, this year.

“Mandals stuck to all guidelines as per the recent Bombay high court order. Some mandals ended their immersions late due to heavy rain,” said Naresh Dahibhavkar, president, Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti.

“The awareness level among masses has increased and it is clearly visible from the drop in use of loudspeakers,” said P Anbalagan, member secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).