Mumbai After two moderate seasons through the past lockdown years, the political class is going all out encouraging citizens to celebrate Ganeshotsav with sheer pomp and fervour. It has underscored brand Hindutva no less, with large advertisements emblazoned on the city’s BEST buses. The maximum noise limit in a residential area has been placed at 55 dB during the day and 45 dB during the night; in commercial hubs it is 65 dB during the day and 55 dB at night. In industrial areas, the limit is 75 dB during the day and 70 dB in the night. Meanwhile, in silent zones the maximum limit during the day is 50 dB and 40 at night. Upscale Malabar Hill is a silent zone. “Our team members will measure the levels outside hospitals and residential zones. This will be compared with the figures stated in the chart,” he said. “While civic officials will monitor sound levels during the days of immersion those from the collector’s office will monitor the situation on ground at pandals, during the days of festival.” The festive season was ushered in earlier this month with a few, albeit boisterous, pandals celebrating Janmashtami. On the other hand, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) effort towards sobriety, aligning with a quietness that most citizens had become accustomed to over the last two years, by choosing to monitor the decibel (dB) levels at Ganesh pandals maybe an attempt to swim against the tide. The state government has appointed teams to check noise levels throughout the festival; officials will work with a BMC-appointed taskforce at municipal wards on visarjan day and popular procession spots. Ramakant Biradar, deputy municipal commissioner, said that the civic body is equipped with sound monitoring machines which will be used for the purpose. “The environment department has already come up with a chart of acceptable sound levels which is being circulated to organisers. We are also making an appeal to everyone not to exceed the maximum limit mentioned on the chart,” said Biradar. “We have mobile applications that can easily track the decibel level, which can be used by the organisers.” This year, Abdulali will be on the streets on the third or the fifth day of Ganesotsav and the day of the visarjan, measuring noise. She added citizens of Girgaum Chowpatty, Dadar, Bandra and Juhu are equally excited and apprehensive about the festival. Karan Jotwani, an Oshiwara resident and co-founder of Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen’s Association (LOCA), said, “Noise creates immense problems for senior citizens, such as my 84-year-old father and 81-year-old mother. Noisy processions passing from our area put tremendous pressure on their ears.” Jotwani also insisted that the civic body institute a time limit for the processions. “Someone should monitor the processions that pass through after midnight,” he added. Andheri-based Sweeta Choithramani shared how high decibel levels create problems for pet parents.
