HINDUSTANI TIMES

​Louder ambulance sirens can kill patients in Mumbai, say activistsMumbai city news: Officials from the state environment ministry said no changes can be made to the order nowMUMBAI Updated: Jul 08, 2017 09:57 IST
Badri Chatterjee 
Hindustan Times
Traffic experts said louder sirens will not help ambulances reach their destination faster.(HT FILE)
Anti-noise activists have objected to the state government’s recent decision to increase decibel levels for ambulance sirens to 110 to 120 decibel from the existing limit of 65 to 75 decibels. They said this move can make ambulance sirens as loud as a thunderclap, sound of a chain saw or that of a packed sports stadium. 
In a letter to the state environment minister and the ministry, Awaaz Foundation, an NGO, quoted international studies that indicate that it is unsafe for even healthy people to be exposed to 120dB for more than seven seconds. “It is far more dangerous for critically-ill patients to be exposed to such high noise levels,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation. “Exposure to such dangerously high noise in rickety ambulances without any sound insulation through the packed Mumbai traffic could even result in death of a patient struggling to receive medical care.”
Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 are based on the World Health Organization Report on ‘Community Noise’, which states that areas around hospitals should be defined as silence zones. 
Abdulali added that the noise is hazardous to the safety of patients inside the ambulance, to patients in hospitals and other silence zones along roads. “Noise adds to stress levels. It is dangerous to residents, including elderly people and children in areas from where the ambulance passes,” said Abdulali. 
Officials from the state environment ministry said no changes can be made to the order now. “High noise levels are being used to get a person to a hospital faster. Since the vehicle is sealed, the sound levels inside the vehicle will be much lower than outside,” said Satish Gavai, additional chief secretary, state environment department. “ Modifications cannot be made to this anymore.”
Traffic experts said louder sirens will not help ambulances reach their destination faster. Ambulances are delayed by congested and narrow roads in the city and even if other motorists want ambulances to get their right of way, there will be delay. “The idea must have been for commuters to get alerted or actually irritated to give way to the ambulance but while this measure would have worked in other cities, it is useless for Mumbai,” said Ashok Datar, founder, Mumbai Environmental Social Network. 

GULF NEWS
INDIAJuly 8, 2017  | Last updated 49 minutes ago 
Order gives ambulances right to make more noise in Mumbai
​Residents are not happy and feel that traffic police should enforce proper rules
Published: 17:45 July 7, 2017 
Pamela Raghunath, Correspondent
 Mumbai: A notification by the Maharashtra Government allowing ambulances to blow the sirens louder so as to navigate through traffic has met with disapproval from both Mumbaikars and activists.
The government’s notification on Thursday allows a maximum level of 120 decibels (dB) for ambulance sirens so that traffic police can notice them and clear the way quickly.


“Ambulances in the state have siren audibility of about 65-75db,” said Aaditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena youth leader and son of party president Uddhav Thackeray.
“Due to low audibility, sometimes traffic police can’t hear the siren and don’t clear the traffic to let the ambulance pass. We have written to the Transport Minister Diwakar Raote and Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam demanding of rules,” he said.
But Mumbaikars are not happy and feel that traffic police should enforce proper rules for motorists to give way when an ambulance is rushing to a hospital. Ambulance drivers are often seen trying hard to make their way ahead as the roads are chock-a-block with vehicles.
“We are living in a city where noise levels are going up every day—be it building construction or road work or heavy traffic when motorists honk continuously,” says a retired teacher and grandmother, Geeta Sharma. “Screeching ambulances add to the noise levels and even my granddaughter wakes up with a start when an ambulance rushes past near our home to a nearby hospital.
And environmental activist Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation, who has been fighting against noise pollution for years, is disturbed by the notification and has strongly objected to it.
In a letter to Kadam, she wrote, “We appeal to you, on behalf of critically ill patients using ambulances as transport to hospital to consider the ill effects of intolerable noise levels. We also appeal on behalf of other residents of Mumbai whose health would be jeopardized by such high noise levels on our streets.”
She has also pointed that 120 dB is a dangerous level to the safety of the patient inside the ambulance and to the hospitals and other Silence Zones placed along roadsides. She says that most ambulances in Mumbai, unlike those in the US and UK, do not have any sound insulation.
“International studies indicate that it is unsafe even for healthy people to be exposed to 120db of sound for more than 7 seconds…
“The Indian Noise Pollution Rules are based on the World Health Organisation Report “Community Noise” which states that areas around hospitals should be defined as Silence Zones so that patients are not exposed to noise pollution over 50dB in the day time and 40 dB in the nighttime.
“Awaaz Foundation has measured noise levels from sirens in London and Mumbai. The measurements in Mumbai were carried out along with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board in 2014 and maximum decibel level was 100dB. The measurement in London were carried out in May 2017 and maximum decibel level was 94 dB.” She has appealed to the minister to withdraw the proposal immediately.

NGO makes noise about loud sirens of emergency vehiclesTHE ASIAN AGE. 
Published : Jul 8, 2017, 2:03 am IST 
Updated : Jul 8, 2017, 2:03 am IST For critically ill patients, it was far more dangerous to be exposed to such high noise levels.

 The proposal was passed after Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray requested that decibel levels of ambulance sirens in the city should equal those in London and New York.Mumbai: After the state environment department issued a notification on Wednesday announcing an increase in permitted decibel limits for ambulance and other emergency services from 100 db to 120 db, NGO Awaaz Foundation on Friday wrote a letter to state environment minister Ramdas Kadam opposing the move and asking him to withdraw the proposal immediately.
The letter stated that raised decibels would be extremely damaging to patients and that international studies indicated that it was unsafe even for healthy people to be exposed to 120db sound for more than seven seconds. For critically ill patients, it was far more dangerous to be exposed to such high noise levels.
Awaaz Foundation, on behalf of critically ill patients, appealed that such intolerable noise levels would jeopardise their health. As it is, Mumbai is the noisiest city in India, according to a Central Pollution Control Board study. The letter stressed that the proposal was dangerous to safety of patients inside ambulances and hospitals and at other silence zones along roadsides. “It is also dangerous for residents of nearby areas who may be in a vulnerable situation, including elderly people and children. High noise levels would constitute a safety risk to traffic as noise affects mental health and could result in increased road rage. It would also place already vulnerable traffic police at risk of adverse health effects and jeopardise their ability to enforce traffic discipline,” it said.
Sumaira Abdulali, founder of Awaaz Foundation, said, “Noise adds to stress levels. Exposure to such hazardous high noise in unsteady ambulances without any sound insulation through jammed Mumbai traffic could even result in death of a patient. The added stress  can be a matter of life and death for critical patients.”Indian noise pollution rules are based on the WHO report.

Tags: ramdas kadam, ngo awaaz foundation
Location: India, Maharashtra, Mumbai (Bombay)

• 7 Jul 2017
• Mumbai
• Badri Chatterjee badri.chatterjee@hindustantimes.com

Activists make noise over state’s plan to amend rulesMUMBAI: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ promise to relax noise rules for Ganeshotsav and dahi handi celebrations has irked noise activists, who said the move shows a lack of concern.
“The state is using its power to suppress people’s genuine concerns, instead of protecting their health. We have been fighting for it for almost two decades and everyone — from slum dwellers to the elite class in Mumbai — has supported us,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation. “Last year, the environment secretary and the Mumbai police commissioner thanked citizens for celebrating a quiet festival. The government move is extremely disappointing.”
“The state does not have the power to issue such an ordinance. Noise norms are framed by the Centre. Whenever the state has approached the Centre in such matters, they have been turned down. I hope good sense prevails and the CM rethinks his stand,” said Ashok Ravat, Shivaji Park resident, who filed a petition that made the area a silence zone.
Members of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), umbrella body of Ganesh mandals in the city, said on Thursday that Fadnavis promised there wouldn’t be any restrictions this year. “We requested the CM to allow us to use loudspeakers in silence zones and raise the height of human pyramids for dahi handi. We want the radius of silence zones to be reduced from 100m to 10m, so festivals can be celebrated without any hindrance,” said Naresh Dahibhavkar, president, BSGSS.
Dahibhavkar said the CM told them an amendment on noise rules couldn’t be issued as Ganeshotav was just 50 days away. “The state has requested the Centre to look into the matter. If they fail to make changes, the CM promised the state environment department would issue an ordinance to dilute noise norms.”
Last year, the Bombay high court banned the use of loudspeakers, drums, trumpets and playing music using sound amplifiers in silence zones during festive celebrations.
In August 2016, the Supreme Court upheld an HC order on banning those under 18 from dahi handi pyramids and restricting the height of pyramids to 20ft. “While 500 to 600 people used to get injured every year during dahi handi, after the SC order, only nine people were injured last year. The state can’t take such a risk. They are only consoling the mandals. We don’t expect any ordinance in violation of court orders,” said Swati Patil, secretary of Utkarsh Mahila Samajik Sanstha, who filed the petition.
Noise pollution not only leads to hearing loss but also can damage other organs and cause cardiac ailments, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Ambulance sirens in UK much lower than 120dB, says anti-noise activistTNN | Updated: Jul 7, 2017, 12.38 AM IST
Mumbai: Ambulance sirens in the UK don't emit sound of 120 decibel (dB) that the state government recently permitted for local ambulances, said anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation on Thursday. She was responding to the state notification that allowed ambulance sirens to be raised to 120dB.

Sounds over 80dB are considered to be hazardous to health. The WHO states that noise pollution can trigger even heart attack and strokes.

"I measured the decibel level of ambulances in London (94dB) and Mumbai and found sirens in London less noisy than those in Mumbai (100dB)," said Abdulali. She said she had highlighted this aspect in a letter to CM Devendra Fadnavis in May. "In the US, only ambulances operating near the highways are allowed to use sirens of 120dB." She added that ambulances in western countries are 'sound-proof' so that the patient isn't troubled . "Ambulances in Mumbai should consider lowering the decibel levels of sirens as they are not sound-proof." TNN

NGO slams CM Fadnavis for promising to relax noise normsTHE ASIAN AGE. 
Published : Jul 7, 2017, 1:05 am IST 
Updated : Jul 7, 2017, 1:05 am IST The HC had directed the state to ensure that noise pollution norms are not violated during festivals.

 The state had filed affidavits giving assurances that it would uphold the norms following which the court dismissed contempt petitions filed against two officers.Mumbai: Awaaz Foundation, which has been working on curbing noise pollution in the city, has expressed shock at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ assurances to Ganeshotsav and Dahi Handi mandals of relaxing noise norms on Thursday. The NGO has said that the CM’s this is a gross violation of the undertakings the state had given to the Bombay high court and, by giving such assurances, the CM was risking public health for political gains.
On Thursday, Mr Fadnavis met representatives of Maharashtra Ganeshotsav Mahasangh, who sought the state government’s intervention to ensure that the festival is not forced to tone down the festivities in light of directions of the high court. The high court had directed the state to ensure that noise pollution norms are not violated during religious festivals. The state had filed affidavits giving assurances that it would uphold the norms following which the court dismissed contempt petitions filed against two officers. The contempt petitions had been filed after Awaaz Foundation complained that the officers had not taken cognisance of norms being flouted and had participated in parades that were guilty of flouting noise pollution norms.
“It is very unfortunate that the government is not putting out strong statements to uphold the undertaking it had given the court to safeguard public health. On the contrary, the CM is giving assurances of relaxing the norms in silence zones which will put to risk the health and lives of the public at large,” said Sumaira Abdulali of the foundation.

Tags: ngo awaaz foundation, devendra fadnavis
Location: India, Maharashtra, Mumbai (Bombay)

​Jul 07 2017 : The Times of India (Mumbai)
Fadnavis urges mandals to celebrate festivals under rules, assures them quick permissions 
Mumbai
TIMES NEWS NETWORK 


Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday called upon a meeting with mandals, celebrating Ganpati and Dahi Handi, and appealed to celebrate the festivals with gusto and in traditional manner while adhering to the guidelines. He also assured delegations of Ganpati Mandal Smanvay Samiti and the BJP Mumbai unit that he will peruse the silent zone issue with the Centre so that mandals in silent zone can get permission to celebrate festivals within the sound limits.Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshostav Samanvay Samiti president Naresh Dahibavkar said that chief minister was positive on the issues raised by mandals and in structed officials to come up with an ordinance regarding issuing permissions, without delay. “We already adhere to time deadlines and sound limits. However, the government should issue permis sions to mandals that are celebrating festival since the time when there were no hospitals or educational institutes around,“ said Dahibavkar.
Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar, in a statement issued here, said that CM have agreed to issue an ordinance regarding issuing permissions to Ganpati mandals to celebrate festivals without hassle.
Anti-noise pollution activist Sumaira Abdulali said, “The state has given an undertaking in the high court that it will not allow loudspeakers in silent zones. The state is bound by this undertaking. However, it is if the state is making make exemptions for mandals, when it should be spreading awareness about the ill-effects of noise on health.“ 
Sena backs mandals on noise pollution issue 
The Shiv Sena is all set to back the city's Govinda-Ganesha outfits on the noise pollution issue, triggering yet another round of confrontation with the Devendra Fadnavis regime in the run up to the festival season.
Pointing out that the city's festival mandals are slated to meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday to discuss issues pertaining to security, law and order and noise pollution during the upcoming festival, Thackeray said, “The Sena will go ahead with its plan if talks with the chief minister yield no positive result.“
“On the eve of festivals, the government raises issues such as terrorism and environment. Red alert is promulgated right in the middle of festivities. As a result, the Hindu community celebrates festivals under duress. The government should come up with a final solution to these problems,“ he added. Thackeray was talkingto mediapersons after inaugurating the Sena's Nariman Point headquarters on Wednesday.
The BJP is keen on poaching on the Sena-backed Govinda-Ganesha mandals, especially in the Marathi-dominated pocketboroughs.--Ambarish Mishra 




Indiatimes|The Times of India|The Economic Times

Noise-mapping of 27 major cities soonTNN | Jun 30, 2017, 05.14 AM IST

MUMBAI: Motorists, be warned! Soon, honking in silence zones may cost you dear. The state government on Thursday informed the Bombay high court that needless honking and honking in silence zones will soon become punishable offences under the Maharashtra Transport and Road Safety Bill 2017, which is awaiting the President's assent.

As part of its efforts to keep sound levels under check, the state government has started noise-mapping of 27 cities. In the first phase, noise-mapping has started in 10 cities, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Mira Bhayander, Vasai-Virar, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur and Panvel. This will help the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) monitor sound levels in different areas and create a database. In an affidavit to the HC, the government said MPCB has installed decibel meters at 10 locations in Mumbai and its suburbs, including Wadala, Bandra, Powai , Andheri, Kandivli, Fort and Chembur, for real-time continuous noise mapping. At five of these places, real-time data is being displayed on boards.

These details were given by advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka, which is hearing a clutch of PILs filed by the NGO Awaaz Foundation and activists including Dr Yeshwant Oke and Dr Mahesh Bedekar on noise pollution.

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