Shiv Sena’s Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park flouts noise regulations
​Anti-noise activists Awaaz Foundation and Shivaji Park-based Wecom trust took noise readings from 6pm onwards until 9pm and found sound levels breaching rules — from political speeches, loudspeakers playing music, drums and others within the Shivaji Park ground.
MUMBAI Updated: Oct 12, 2016 00:26 IST
Badri Chatterjee 
Hindustan Times
The crowd at the rally at Shivaji Park, Dadar.(KUNAL PATIL/HT)

Noise levels at the Shiv Sena’s Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, Dadar, on Tuesday were much above permissible limit for a Silence Zone. The noise blared at 98.9 decibels (dB), which is almost as loud as a discotheque.
According to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, the sound levels within a Silence Zone cannot exceed 50dB.
Last year, senior Shiv Sena leader and state environment minister Ramdas Kadam’s speech was the loudest at 97.4dB.
Anti-noise activists Awaaz Foundation and Shivaji Park-based Wecom trust took noise readings from 6pm onwards until 9pm and found sound levels breaching rules — from political speeches, loudspeakers playing music, drums and others within the Shivaji Park ground.
“The rally was much louder than the ones in previous years and there has been no attempt to maintain noise rules this time. The norms were flouted despite police presence. Any officer I spoke to did not seem to carry a decibel meter,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation.
While the maximum sound levels from speeches from the announcer was recorded at 94.7dB, the reading during Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s speech was 85.4dB. Subhash Desai’s peaked at 97.6dB.
On May 5, 2010, the Bombay High Court (HC) had declared Shivaji Park a Silence Zone while hearing a petition filed by Wecom, a residents’ trust. It had said that any violation of the rule will invite stringent action from the state.
The NGOs alleged that Shiv Sena had not taken permission from the HC for use of loudspeakers this year.
The Supreme Court’s guidelines on noise pollution prohibit the use of loudspeakers at places located within 100m of a hospital, school, court, or a religious place, known as a ‘Silence Zone’.
While a Shiv Sena spokesperson said that the party had received permission from the Mumbai police, Paramjit Singh Dahiya, deputy commissioner of police, Zone 5, confirmed that the Shivaji Park police station had given permission for the use loudspeakers on Tuesday. However, he did not comment on the court orders.
“The police have committed contempt of court by allowing the breach of noise rules,” said Ashok Ravat, member, Wecom Trust, adding that the petitioners were not notified about any permission for the use of loudspeakers.
He cited a comprehensive Bombay High Court order that not only bans the use of loudspeakers at Silence Zones but even drums, horns, trumpets and music through amplifiers. 
“We will be taking the matter to the Bombay HC as our case is up of hearing on Thursday,” said Ravat.
Meanwhile, noise levels from various Dusshera processions too, breached norms on Tuesday. Awaaz Foundation recorded noise from one procession at Shivaji Park, Dadar at 105 dB, abother at Mahim was 98 dB.

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‘Sound pollution was high in Sena’s Dussehra rally’TNN | Updated: Oct 12, 2016, 03.48 AM IST
Mumbai: Anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira AbdulAli, on Tuesday said she recorded high decible level of noise at the Shiv Sena's Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. She also claimed that police allowed use of loudspeakers without court's permission.

"I have recorded the sound level at 98.9 decible (dB). Shivaji Park is a silent zone and for the last five years the organisers used to take permission from court and police before using loudspeakers. However, this time court has not granted any permission but the police allowed the use of loudspeakers, in direct contempt of the court," said AbdulAli.

She said, "When I spoke to some police personnel here, they said they have no instructions to record the noise level. So, I will write a letter to the police commissioner tomorrow and submit the recorded noise level to the court."

Court has also put conditions to check the noise level of loudspeakers. As per high court order, no loudspeaker can be used in a silent zone and the general noise level cannot exceed 50 dB. "The use of loudspeaker in a silent zone is against the court's order. There have been five FIRs in the past against those who flout the rule. The cases are still pending," she said.

When asked whether permission for use of loudspeaker was granted by the police, zonal DCP Paramjeet Singh Dahiya said, "I don't want to comment on this matter. Sumaira has sent me detailed message about the recorded noise level."

4 COMMENTS
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Deepakbhopal-263 days agoits a very sensitive matter. sooner or later we have to address it at a stronger, relevant platform so that it become part of public conscience and people across religion come in single voice against noise pollution.
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Susheel chadha
10382
266 days agoThis happens once a year What about the daily cacophony from masjids at all odd hours ? Or is it because it was a dussera rally --and dussera is a hundu function so has to be targetedb
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Ra Kh
5047
266 days agoThey are the lawmakers. So they have the right to break the law at any point of time. They can bring amendments in the law as per their requirements.
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Mumbai: Inspection finds cracker samples not exceeding permissible noise limitOn Tuesday, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Awaaz Foundation, a non-government orgnaisation, conducted their annual pre-Diwali exercise at Chembur’s Royal Chemical Fertiliser (RCF) Colony.
Written by Rohit Alok | Mumbai | Published:October 19, 2016 2:10 am

As many as 26 types of firecrackers were tested in an open ground, and noise levels recorded five metres from the point. (Photo for representational purpose)


An annual pre-Diwali inspection on firecrackers in the city found that none of the samples in the ‘single firecracker’ category exceeded permissible noise levels upon going off. This is the first time in almost a decade that no violation has been found in noise pollution rules during an inspection on firecrackers.
On Tuesday, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Awaaz Foundation, a non-government orgnaisation, conducted their annual pre-Diwali exercise at Chembur’s Royal Chemical Fertiliser (RCF) Colony.
As many as 26 types of firecrackers were tested in an open ground, and noise levels recorded five metres from the point.
“After 10 years of conducting these tests, we have found that no noise violation was breached in the single firecracker category. We were specifically targeting the rassi bombs and the highest noise level recorded was at 99 decibels,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation. The permissible limits for serial firecrackers range between 90 dB and 110 dB, an official said.
“Ever year, the levels have exceeded 125 decibel limit, but there has been a drastic change in this year’s tests,” Abdulali added.
Officials attributed the dip in noise levels to awareness and enforcement. “Through awareness of the hazards of these firecrackers, there is a change in the buyers’ demands moving from higher decible firecrackers to light-based crackers. Several shopkeepers have even told us. The police have confiscated several rassi bombs over the years,” Abdulali added.
The results of the serial firecrackers are expected on Wednesday.