Noise levels at Mahim Fair higher than Eid processions, says NGO

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Noise levels at Mahim Fair higher than Eid processions, says NGO
Vinamrata Borwankar | TNN | Dec 26, 2015, 01.46 AM IST

MUMBAI: Noise levels on the first day of the Mahim Fair, which commended on Friday, were higher than those at Eid-e-Milad processions.
Policemen, who attend the event in Mahim, don't seem to be interested in enforcing the guidelines on curbing noise pollution, said activist Sumaira Abdulali.
The decibel (dB) level at the Mahim Fair on Friday was 119.9, while the same at Thursday's Eid-e-Milad processions was 103.5.
During the Eid-e-Milad processions across the city, the highest noise level recorded by Awaaz Foundation at Byculla bridge (103.5 dB) was lower than last year's highest reading of 113.6 dB recorded near JJ Hospital.
However, at the 10-day Mahim Fair, the highest recorded noise level of 119.9 dB was higher than 118 dB on the first day of the event in 2014. On the inaugural day of the fair, the Mahim police lead the 'sandal' procession of the Urs of Makhdoom Shah Baba at Mahim dargah.
"It is unfortunate that the police, charged with enforcing the noise pollution rules, are the first to violate them at the Mahim Fair every year. This year, in spite of repeated complaints and requests to control noise, no action has been taken at all," Sumaira Abdulali, the convener of Awaaz Foundation, said. She has written to the chief minister's office and commissioner of police.
Police officials told TOI that they would look into the matter. Joint police commissioner (law & order) Deven Bharti said, "This is a tradition that has been going on for ages. There is nobody to check the decibel level but I will definitely look into it."
The organizers of the event said that efforts were being made to reduce noise levels.
"We had many volunteers reaching out to households telling them about the ill-effects of noise pollution. We have told people that playing loud music is against Islam and the law. We have been able to effectively bring down noise levels during Eid-e-Milad in the last few years," said Sohail Khandwani, managing trustee of Mahim Dargah.