Mumbai’s Noise Crackdown Awaaz Foundation Calls for Action

As Mumbai gears up for the Ganeshotsav celebrations this weekend, the Awaaz Foundation is intensifying its efforts to address the city’s chronic noise pollution. The foundation has implored Mumbai police, local authorities, and pollution control agencies to adopt and enforce the stringent noise regulations recently issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Pune.

NGT’s latest directive, issued on August 30, mandates comprehensive measures to mitigate noise pollution during the Ganesh festival. The court’s order, overseen by Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Member Dr Vijay Kulkarni, calls for the prohibition of Disco Jockeys and high-decibel music instruments, restriction of procession sizes, and widespread public warnings about the health risks associated with excessive noise. These regulations were spurred by an application from Dr Kalyani Mandke of Erandwane, Pune, seeking a reduction in noise levels during the festival.

The Awaaz Foundation, a key petitioner in this case, has been tracking noise pollution in Mumbai since 2003. According to their data, noise levels during the Ganeshotsav in 2023 reached alarming figures, with recordings of 114.7 dB during Ganpati Visarjan and 108.1 dB during Eid e Milad—both significantly exceeding permissible limits for residential zones. The tribunal’s ruling requires several immediate actions for Pune, which Awaaz Foundation believes should be mirrored in Mumbai. These include real-time noise monitoring by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) at major processional sites, the installation of digital noise display boards, and publicising the detrimental effects of excessive noise.

Moreover, the police are tasked with regulating the number of loudspeakers and musical instruments, seizing equipment from offenders, and initiating criminal prosecutions. MPCB is also instructed to publish violators’ names and to utilise various media channels to ensure widespread awareness of the new regulations before the festival commences. As Mumbai prepares for the festival, the Awaaz Foundation’s push for these measures underscores the urgent need for stringent enforcement to curb noise pollution and safeguard public health.