Jun 16 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai)
BMC has no rules to keep noise levels down at building sites 
Bella Jaisinghani 
Mumbai: 


For several months in 2015, Maple Tower housing society along SV Road in Jogeshwari was plagued by the ear-splitting sounds of heavy machinery drilling into the basalt at Gilbert Hill.“A construction site along the hill made life difficult for our residents, many of whom are senior citizens. Often work would start in the early morning hours and continue well into the night,“ said a resident. The society then approached the police and the state pollution control board as well as NGOs. The news grabbed media attention, after which the builder began to wind down his heavy equipment at sunset.
Not everyone living next door to a construction site may have a similar happy ending to narrate because there is no formal notification of guidelines for construction sites. There are no civic rules that make it mandatory for builders to curb noise levels. “The BMC only makes us sign a no-nuisance bond. That's it,“ said a developer.
The crux of the issue is that while police is the implementing authority for noise limits under environment protection rules, the BMC is the agency which is in charge of issuing permissions for development and alterations. Since the latter has not laid down guidelines on noise, a developer or an individual can take cover under the approvals secured from it.
Awaaz Foundation, which has worked for the past 14 years on noise pollution, has readings from construction sites which show that noise levels from construction equipment routinely exceed safe levels for silent or residential zones. Pneumatic drillers used for foundation excavation hit 100dB, cement mixers 85dB, and marblestone cutters 85dB but at very high frequency which make them more damaging. And very rarely are police able to act on complaints against such violations. To bring the issue to the authorities' notice, activist Sumaira Abdulali recently wrote to the municipal commissioner, “It would be appropriate...to specify... ex act type of equipment, with measured decibel levels, and after checking its availability in the city of Mumbai, which would make conformity with Noise Rules possible, particularly during the extended time period.“
The suggestion seems pertinent especially since the earlier practice to allow construction from 7am to 7pm has now been relaxed further on grounds of enhancing the ease of doing business. The civic body has now permitted work from 6am to 10pm. A member of the BMC's building proposals department said, “Now the definition of `onset of night' is defined as 10pm so technically builders say they should be allowed to carry out construction activity until that hour. The civic commissioner has allowed that.“
Shirish Sukhatme, immediate past president of the Practicing Engineers and Architects Town Planners Association (PEATA), says methods of construction have become noisier over the years. “The development control (DC) rules now make it mandatory for builders to provide parking. Moreover parking is a saleable commodity and parking lots sell for Rs 25-50 lakh. Owing to this, buildings are taller as lower floors are reserved for parking and residential flats are higher. So foundations are dug deeper into the ground using heavy machinery .“
Structures are now fashio ned using steel technology where metal is bent, ground, and welded. Moreover, for those that rise 70m or higher, piling work is a must, which is done in situ by hammering cast iron deep into the ground; this creates a loud sound and vibrations.
“Add to that the loading and unloading material and debris, labourers shouting and construction is quite a noisy affair,“ he says. “The use of concrete breakers in fact can reach levels up to120dB making it impossible to hear another person speak.“
Sukhatme recommends use of noise dampers on such sites.If they rise up to 10 metre high and incline at an angle of 45 degrees they can muffle some of the sound from drilling and cutting.
Representatives from the construction sector say necessary efforts are made to check noise. Ram Parulekar, deputy general manager of Epicons, a project management consultancy , says, “Builders stick to prevailing societal norms. Concrete work is the main cause of loud sound, rest of the activity is not noisy .“ He says authorities are also mindful of residents' grievances. “We do have implementing agencies like police and pollution control board that address these issues,“ he said.
Just going by feedback that TOI's ongoing campaign has received in the past 10 days, it does appear that these agencies could do much more. 

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Activists for display of noise level at city junctions
File photo of a hand-held decibel meter —For representation purpose only
 VIRAT A SINGH | Sat, 9 Apr 2016-07:40am , DNAFounder of NGO Awaaz Foundation, Sumaira Abdulali, said that Mumbai needed noise mapping and there was an urgent need to use this to create an impact about how it was affecting the health of people. 
With Mumbai's noise quotient getting the top ranking for maximum violation of prescribed noise limits by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), activists fighting for implementation of sound pollution norms want the level of noise to be measured and displayed at important city junctions.
Founder of NGO Awaaz Foundation, Sumaira Abdulali, said that Mumbai needed noise mapping and there was an urgent need to use this to create an impact about how it was affecting the health of people. The NGO has been at the forefront of the movement against noise pollution.
"We need to install real-time sound measuring equipment at crucial and noisy traffic junctions. The readings should be displayed so that people are continuously aware of the noise levels. A database should also be created.
High noise levels, harmful for health, can be displayed in red to create additional impact," said Abdulali, adding that it might encourage motorists to reduce honking.
She pointed out that since last year, after the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) was launched to provide location-specific air quality, a lot of awareness was created about air pollution. "There are display boards, Smartphone applications as well as a website dedicated to air pollution now. Hence, there should be no problem in doing something similar for noise pollution as well, which is almost as serious as air pollution," said Abdulali.
Another environmentalist said that at the moment, individuals were measuring noise levels and submitting reports for only a few festivals or events. "Traffic noise and honking are the biggest contributors to noise pollution in the city, but there is no specific data available. Once such decibel meters are installed at various junctions across the city, not only will it be in public domain in a format for the common man to understand, but one will also be able to pinpoint the worst affected areas, where immediate steps can be taken to bring down the noise levels," he said.
Meanwhile, according to a senior official from the Environment Department, this could prove to be a big step to fight noise pollution. "Technology is available, so it's not that setting up decibel meters and display boards will require rocket science. It can be done by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) itself," shared the official.

Noise at MNS rally touches rock-concert levelsNoise levels at the Gudi Padwa rally touched a deafening 119.4 dB, says anti-noise activistMUMBAI Updated: Apr 09, 2016 00:25 IST
Badri Chatterjee 
Hindustan Times
The Maharashtra Narvirman Sena (MNS) violated noise pollution rules during its Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park on Friday, where the noise levels touched a deafening 119.4 decibels (dB), according to anti-noise activist Sumaira Abdulali. A rock concert generates noise levels of 120dB, according to the website www.webmd.com.
The highest noise levels were recorded during two processions, involving drums and metal plates, before the speeches began. According to Abdulali’s measurements, the highest noise level during the first procession was 113.5dB. The second was even louder, peaking at 119.4dB.
“There was hardly any attempt to regulate noise during the function. Music from loudspeakers as well as instruments pushed decibel levels way above permissible limits,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener of Awaaz Foundation, an NGO.
Read more Maharashtra not your b’day cake, Raj roars
Abdulali said that before the function began, the ambient noise in the area was recorded at 62dB. As soon as the background music began, the decibel level rose to 81dB. “The highest noise level during the speeches was 89.5dB, recorded during Avinash Abhiyankar’s speech. This was followed by MLA Sharad Sonawane’s speech, which peaked at 86dB, and Raj Thackeray’s, which touched 80.1dB,” she said.
According to standards laid down under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, residential and silence zones should have a maximum noise level of 55dB and 50dB during the day and 45dB and 40dB during the night, respectively.
On Wednesday, the Bombay high court had directed the state government to take criminal action against MNS if the party flouted its undertaking to maintain ambient sound levels during its Shivaji Park rally.
On May 5, 2010, the high court had declared Shivaji Park as a silence zone while hearing a petition filed by Wecom, a residents’ trust. On Wednesday, after hearing a plea from the same petitioner, a bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Prakash Naik said, “In case of any violation, the state will have to take stringent action as the state has taken liberty to grant permission.”
Ashok Rawat, a resident of Shivaji Park, told HT that while the MNS was asked to use small 3.5-watt speakers, it went ahead and used the traditional 250-watt loudspeakers. “The total wattage of loudspeakers during the function was calculated to be 6,400 watts. Members of the MNS had also put up tin sheets around the premises but this barely had any effect as metal does not absorb sound,” he said.

It's loud and clear: MNS violated noise norms at Shivaji Park rallyBy A Correspondent | Posted 09-Apr-2016
Despite the MNS assuring a court that there would be no sound pollution at its Shivaji Park rally, the decibel level reading taken by activist Sumaira Abdulali from AWAAZ Foundation showed that the sound was louder than the limit of 50 decibels.

Activist Sumaira Abdulali showing the high decibel reading outside Shivaji Park
A Mumbai-based NGO had approached the court recently, saying the MNS should not be allowed to hold its rally at Shivaji Park as the area is a ‘silence zone’. MNS had assured the court that it would not violate the Noise Pollution (Control and Regulation) Rules, 2000.
Before the rally, an MNS office bearer said, “We have told the court that we will not be using loudspeakers and will use sound distribution systems, instead, which is why there will not be any sound pollution.”
But activists at the venue differed. Loudspeakers, drums and dhols raised the decibel levels considerably, they said.
×Abdulali told mid-day that the decibel level even touched 119.04 at one point. “But this was before the programme started. Once MNS chief Raj Thackeray began speaking, the maximum decibel level recorded was 85. When MNS leader Avinash Abhyankar spoke, the reading was 89 decibels.”

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Breaking the noise barrier 
Sumaira Abdulali 
MUMBAI, JANUARY 17, 2016 09:47 IST 
UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 05:19 IST Noise levels in Mumbai are reducing every year due to increasing public awareness about noise pollution and peak noise levels. Hopefully, 2016 will see a dramatic fall. Committed citizens like 9 to 12-year-old children from the BDD chawls who measured noise during festivals in 2015, gynaecologist Dr Mahesh Bedekar, who has fought through the courts to control noise levels from festivals which disturbed patients in his maternity home in Thane, Ajay Marathe, who controlled noise from a mosque and a school next to his house, those who controlled noise from a construction site next to their building, give us hope that the trend of lower noise levels in Mumbai will continue and that we can aspire to a noise-free Mumbai in the foreseeable future.


While the Christian community was among the first to bring their celebrations in line with the Noise Pollution Rules several years ago by concluding their Christmas Midnight Mass before midnight, noise levels in 2015 during Diwali and Eid-e-Milad were lower in Mumbai than they have been for several years. Awareness campaigns in schools such as those conducted by NGOs Sanskar India Foundation, Akanksha and others and government campaigns in municipal schools have resulted in children educating their parents about the ill effects of noise during Diwali and a marked decrease in the use of firecrackers. Muslim clerics and activists announced their opposition to noise pollution during Eid-e-Milad this year for the first time and urged their community to not use loudspeakers.
Dr Yeshwant Oke, Dr PN Rao and Saad Ali were among the first to oppose rising noise levels in the country, even before the Noise Rules were notified. Awaaz Foundation, with professional pro bono contributions from advocates Ishwar Nankani and others, began work on noise pollution in 2002 and has campaigned continuously since then, generating primary data, approaching the courts and creating awareness. Today, noise pollution has been recognised as a civic and health hazard that is taking its toll on all citizens in Mumbai, regardless of their religious, social or other status, and citizens have become increasingly vocal and active against high noise levels; many have taken effective action to control noise in their neighbourhood.
Mumbai is the first city in India where citizens have gradually realised the ill effects of increasing noise levels on their health, and its example is spreading to big cities like Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and smaller cities like Nashik, Benares and Aurangabad.
Citizens’ pro bono contributions of professional expertise in effective awareness campaigns, like those designed by award-winning adman Josy Paul and his team at BBDO India, against noise have contributed towards this. The courts have also taken noise pollution seriously and have passed effective orders to implement the Noise Rules. Citizens’ individual successes have motivated others to follow – from being an unknown and ignored pollutant a decade ago, noise pollution is now recognised as a major health hazard for urban populations. Mumbai has been declared the noisiest city in the world by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Festivals, though occasional, create the highest noise levels and cause acute distress to bystanders, particularly vulnerable ones like infants, the elderly and ailing. Animals also suffer distress. Pets can become disoriented and lost; bird populations can reduce and migratory birds can lose their way. This acute source has been the first from which general awareness about noise pollution and its adverse effects has arisen, and many have taken various actions to control it.
Awaaz Foundation has measured noise levels for almost 15 years and obtained orders from the Bombay High Court to control loudspeaker use. Dr Mahesh Bedekar filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay HC resulting in strict orders for implementation of the Rules. Gaurang Vora obtained a clarification from the court that firecracker use cannot be extended beyond 10 pm, even on Diwali, and Ashok Ravat led residents of Shivaji Park to have it declared a Silence Zone.
Other sources of noise which continue throughout the year contribute to making Mumbai the world’s noisiest city. Traffic and construction are two unregulated noisy events which cause distress to almost everyone. Increase in awareness about noise pollution has resulted in citizens’ action in this field as well. Awaaz Foundation measured the noise from traffic and construction and filed a PIL against noise from these sources in 2007. In 2008, Awaaz conducted the first No Honking Day with the Mumbai Traffic Police, which was replicated in other cities. Other citizens too have taken up this cause. Dileep Nevatia obtained an order from the National Green Tribunal restricting the maximum permissible decibel level of horns. The Pali Hill Residents’ Association and some residents of Andheri have controlled the timing and decibel level of construction in their areas, even in the absence of formal administrative guidelines to control noise.
Responding to citizens’ activism and court orders, the government has also recognised the necessity of controlling noise pollution in our cities. In 2010, after Awaaz Foundation led a signature campaign to amend the Noise Pollution Rules to include construction and other forms of noise, the MoEF amended the Rules. Draft Firecracker Rules have been issued by the police, and the Maharashtra government has implemented measures like mandatory noise barriers on new flyovers, announcing a noise-mapping study, conducting awareness programmes in municipal schools and demarcating Silence Zones. The police have set up a (mostly) effective system to address anonymous citizen complaints. This system, while effective most of the year, often fails during peak festival season.
To monitor effectiveness of police action, Awaaz has set up a Facebook page called Citizens’ Noise Map. Any citizen can download a free decibel meter to their Android device or iPhone, measure noise levels, complain to the police and post their observations on the page. Along with our decibel readings, citizens’ observations are periodically compiled and sent to the appropriate authorities.
Exposure to excessive noise can result in deafness, high blood pressure, heart disease and mental illness. Hearing tests on traffic policemen and children exposed to high noise levels have revealed increased levels of deafness. However, we have hope for the future: due to rapidly increasing public awareness on noise pollution, peak noise levels in Mumbai during certain festivals are reducing every year, government authorities are undertaking noise mapping projects and installing noise barriers. Citizens are volunteering their time towards controlling noise from various sources in their neighbourhoods. I hope to see a dramatic fall in noise pollution from all sources in 2016.
When citizens start participating in cleanliness initiatives against various types of pollutants, it becomes possible to control pollution and better our quality of life, moving away from the burden of disease. Initiatives like the Citizens’ Noise Map, PILs against pollution filed by ordinary citizens and other initiatives give us hope. More citizens need to participate in the anti-noise pollution campaign and ensure effective implementation of Noise Pollution Rules to safeguard their own health and well being.


What you should know


Noise Rules are applicable to all, regardless of religion, economic status.

Police take anonymous noise complaints on helpline number 100. Request a complaint number.

Police are equipped to measure decibel levels during a site visit.

Loudspeakers are allowed up to midnight for only 15 notified days a year. Firecrackers are not allowed beyond 10 pm.

Time extension up to midnight does not apply in a Silence Zone. No noisy instrument can been used in a Silence Zone.

Even when loudspeakers are allowed up to midnight, decibel levels have to remain below prescribed levels.
Traffic Noise


1Horns beyond 87dB are not permitted on any car. 

2YAll multi-tone horns, including reverse horns, are illegal. 

3Shrill horns are illegal. 

4Please complain on the traffic police website with photographs if you spot illegally fitted horns. 

4 Please post your findings on FB page 'Citizens’ Noise Map'. 


What is noise mapping?
1. Noise Mapping is an established method to capture existing noise levels and predict levels in case of change of land use like new infrastructure projects etc
2. Noise Mapping in the UK is accessible to citizens through NGO Defra's interactive website
3. Awaaz Foundation recommends the government should integrate noise mapping into the Development Plan


About the author

Sumaira Abdulali is Mumbai's best known anti noise-pollution activist. Since 2003, Ms Abdulali has worked, individually and through NGO Awaaz Foundation, on environmental issues such as noise pollution, illegal sand mining, mining in bio-diverse forests, marine pollution and oil spills, eco-friendly festivals, protection of trees and on civic issues including laws on sale of tobacco to children.
Awaaz Foundation networks with citizens’ groups and other NGOs to achieve maximum impact and has organized volunteers, offered support, legal advice and education to people suffering from excessive environmental noise. Ms Abdulali has relentlessly monitored noise levels of loudspeakers, construction equipment, traffic and firecrackers and interacted with authorities to ensure their support and co-operation. Due to pressure, the Mumbai Police set up a dedicated phone number to tackle citizens’ noise complaints and are strictly implementing timings and other requirements of the Noise Rules.
Following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Awaaz Foundation, the state government commissioned noise barriers, noise mapping studies and policy change including a draft Firecracker Rules, and notified Silence Zones in Mumbai.