Make people aware of noise pollution: High court to Thane mayor

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Thane Mayor to hold a meeting with corporators to create awareness among people about noise pollution ahead of the Ganpati and Navratri festivals.

A division bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and RG Ketkar directed Thane Mayor Ashok Vaithi to hold a meeting on Saturday along with members of the Awaaz Foundation.

“The corporators are leaders of their area and they can create awareness among the people,” the bench said, adding that “we don’t want to take any coercive action against the offenders because this is a very sensitive subject”.

The bench directed the Thane Police Commissioner not to grant permission to Ganesh Mandals to use loud speakers within 100 meters of any major hospitals in Thane. The HC also observed that the members of the Awaaz Foundation should make the corporators aware of the Supreme Court order. 

The direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Thane-based doctor, seeking strict implementation of noise pollution.