City’s visarjan noise levels hit all-time high

Mumbaikars made sure that the Supreme Court stay on a High Court order restoring silence zones is made proper use of in the city when they bid a cacophonous farewell to Lord Ganesha on Tuesday.

Noise-level readings carried out by Awaaz Foundation recorded the maximum noise level at 119.8dB during this year’s Ganpati visarjan compared to 116.4dB in 2016.

Of the 25 locations in the city where noise levels were recorded, Dadar topped the charts at 83dB, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board officials said. 

Sumaira Abdulali, Convenor of Awaaz Foundation, said noise levels outside some major hospitals were extremely high and that there was extensive use of noisy firecrackers.

“While there was less use of DJs, brass bands and drums were used throughout the city. Metal cylinders beaten with metal hammers were used extensively,” she said.

Anti-noise pollution activists have asked for a complete ban on firecrackers and beating of metal plates, which are the biggest contributor to noise pollution.

MPCB joint director V M Motghare said that the noise levels had come down compared to last year as fewer DJ were seen with loudspeakers. “The noise levels is still a concern but there has been a lot of awareness which is showing on the ground as people are preferring less noisy processions,” he said.