Residents associations in various parts of the city use SMS, handbills to spread awareness about noise pollution
With the festival of light nearing, residents associations in various parts of the city are doing their bit to ensure a quieter Diwali. From sending SMS to hand bills to talking to them through meetings, they are doing it all to convince people not to use crackers that have deafening sounds.
“The idea is that people have less noise pollution. We have been doing this every year. This year we are reaching out to people through messages, explaining the ill-effects of crackers. We try and talk to children and explain to them the dangers of bursting loud crackers. In some cases we also get pets along who have suffered due to crackers. Some children can really relate to it and do not burst crackers with loud noises,” said V Sangole, joint secretary of Pestom Sagar Citizens Forum.
Some are even asking residents to avoid bursting crackers in their area altogether. “What we are doing is that talking to parents and children. We are, in fact, asking them not to burst loud crackers and even if they want to, they should be going to an open area like Marine Drive or elsewhere with number of emergency services handy. In our area, flying of rockets is not allowed. Since the lanes are narrow, chances are that they may enter someone’s house,” Kishore Jagtiani, honorary secreatary of 3rd and 4th Pasta Lane Residents Association.
While some are convincing, others like the Khar Residents Association (KRA) are using the stick approach too. “We have sent handbills to various societies. We have already co-ordinated with the police and residents are warned of punishment. Conservancy department too would be working with us. They will be around and will impose fines if people burst crakcers on the road and dirty the area. Residents will have to burst them inside their premises,” said Anandini Thakoor, member of KRA.
Others who have followed up with schools state that their years of follow up are already showing. “There is a great deal of respite after the restrain advisory we had sent to this effect earlier. With schools, too, urging children not to opt for loud crackers, the sound level has reduced considerably in our area. If they still fire loud crackers, we will inform police,” said Indrani Malkani, secretary of Malabar Hill Residents Association.
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