At 123.7dB, Opera House records noisiest Ganpati immersions this year

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READ MORE Sumaira Abdulali|Pollution Control Board|Opera House|Noise Levels|Juhu Chowpatty

MUMBAI: Noise levels during Ganpati immersion processions reached a record high of 123.7dB this year. Awaaz Foundation recorded the ear-shattering decibel level at Opera House at 11.05pm on Sunday. The highest noise level previously recorded was 123.3dB in 2013, according to the NGO. While Maharashtra Pollution Control Board officials agreed that immersion processions were louder this year compared to 2014, they said that Juhu Chowpatty recorded the highest noise level at 112.6dB on Sunday.

"Ganpati processions blocked several roads causing severe traffic jams at many locations, including S V Road, Dadar, Bandra and Khar. DJs accompanying the processions were found to breach the sound limit at every location monitored by our volunteers," said Sumaira Abdulali, noise pollution activist from Awaaz Foundation.

Blatant use of loudspeakers, DJ music, drums and firecrackers kept the noise levels as high as 116dB at Opera House even at midnight. "The use of firecrackers was also higher than the previous years, adding to the noise and air pollution. Loudspeakers, drums and other instruments stopped playing at midnight at Girgaum Chowpatty—the first time that the deadline was followed—but, a little further ahead Girgaumcha Raja's procession continued to beat the drums and use loudspeakers until about 12.45am," said Abdulali.

However, most mandals did not violate the noise norms this year. "Loudspeakers were kept in check at pandals due to the high court orders. These were also set up in such a manner that they blocked less portion of the road and not obstruct traffic movement," she said.

Citizens agreed that this Ganeshotsav was a noisy one. "DJs playing loud music in trucks were lined up on roads, holding up traffic," said a resident of Gokhale Road in Dadar. Puja Khanna from Versova complained, "We expected the music to stop at 10.30-11pm, but many processions continued to blare music till 1.30am. They even blocked roads and affected traffic."





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