Marine drive stretch saw the highest maximum noise level being recorded across the three locations reaching 114.1dB opposite Police Gymkhana
While the Supreme Court (SC) orders on bursting firecrackers between 8 pm and 10 pm were completely violated in Mumbai, the only good news for the city this Diwali was that not only the trend of reduction in overall bursting of fire-crackers continued this year but also the maximum noise levels saw a dip and was recorded as 114.1dB, which is lower compared to 2017.
Fewer crackers less noise
Sanjay Salunkhe of Awaaz Foundation, an organisation crusading against noise pollution, who took readings on Wednesday night at three prominent locations- Bandra Carter Road, Worli Seaface and Marine drive, which usually witness large-scale bursting of firecrackers, informed that at all the three locations there was a visible reduction in the number of people who came out to burst firecrackers.
"Marine drive was really surprising as thousands throng to burst crackers every year, but this year the number had reduced probably due to strict action by Mumbai police who were not allowing people to burst crackers at several stretches of the promenade," he said adding that while many were bursting crackers on the stretch between the Police Gymkhana and the parking area opposite side of the promenade, others were setting up firecrackers on the promenade opposite Pizza by the Bay.
"The highest noise level recorded at Carter road was 107.6 dB, while that at Worli Sea Face was 109.0 dB. Meanwhile Marine drive stretch saw the highest maximum noise level being recorded across the three locations reaching 114.1dB opposite Police Gymkhana," Salunkhe shared.
Police crackdown revellers at Marine drive, however city flouts 10 pm deadline
As per the Awaaz report on noise level recorded during Diwali, the cops implemented the Supreme Court (SC) deadline of 10 pm at Marine Drive. Although there were some violations, as most of the places police shut down firecracker use at 10 pm and also took action against those still bursting crackers after the deadline.
"There was a visible presence of the cops at Worli sea face and Marine drive apart from this there were many plain clothed cops who were moving around on Marine Drive stopping people from setting up crackers post 10 pm. I saw many cops even catching offenders who were violating the deadlines and putting them in the police vans," Salunkhe stated adding that however, it was visible that rest of the place the crackers were being burst.
110dB noise levels recorded in Thane, Cops fail to implement SC order
While there was almost 20% reduction in the usage of firecrackers in Thane city as per Dr Mahesh Bedekar, a Gynecologist who runs a hospital in Thane and had filed a PIL against the noise during religious festivals the problem was that the cops failed to enforce the 10 pm deadline.
"Maximum noise level recorded was 110d be at Panchpakhadi and Hiranandani meadows and of the Diwali days Wednesday, which was the Laxmi pujan day was the noisiest," said Bedekar who took readings at four locations at Thane.
He shared that the nowhere the cops were seen taking noise levels nor enforcing the 10 pm deadline and hence the fireworks continued along the roads way past till midnight.
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