Noise levels during the final-day Ganapati immersion processions in Mumbai breached prescribed limits at several locations with readings as high as 107.8 decibels, NGO Awaaz Foundation said on Saturday.
The maximum permissible decibel limits between 10pm and 6am are 40 dB in a Silence Zone and 45dB in a Residential Zone, it said. In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Awaaz Foundation founder Sumaira Abdulali alleged that loud music was being played till at least 12.30 am on Saturday.
Most processions did not carry loudspeakers. The NGO, which has been documenting noise levels during the Ganapati festival since 2003, submitted its report on noise levels recorded on September 25 and 26 to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Mumbai Police Commissioner.
“Unfortunately, political parties across party lines have continued to violate the Noise Rules by playing music upto 103 decibels and continuing until at least 12.30 am on 26th September,” she said. “Although no police decibel meters were visible on the street, on enquiry, I was informed that the decibel meters had been mounted on towers,” she said. Awaaz Foundation said most Ganesh mandals did not use of DJs and loudspeakers mounted on trucks during their processions this year. A noise level of 80.4-91.4 decibels was recorded at Girgaon Chowpatty at 4.41 pm on September 25 at “political party booths using loudspeakers”, according to the report.
