Mahim fair noise levels exceeded limits

Despite some concerned local residents of Mahim giving a written complaint in advance to Mumbai Police, BMC and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), noise levels on the first day of Mahim fair on Friday stood at 119 db while the permissible limit in the area being a silent zone is 50 db. The Asian Age on December 10 had reported on how local residents had given a written complaint informing all the three concerned authorities to act on noise pollution.

Sumaira Abdulali, who has been fighting noise pollution since 2002 through her Awaaz Foundation, reached the spot in Mahim and gauged the noise levels with a sound level meter, which showed the noise levels to be at 119db. “A report on this has been dashed off to offices of Maharashtra’s chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and police commissioner DG Ahmed Javed,” said Ms. Abdulali.

Incidentally, as part of an old tradition, officials and men from the Mahim police station take out the first sandal procession. When contacted senior police inspector, Mahim police, Shantilal Jadhav said, “Its true, we took out the procession like every year, but we didn’t bring the DJs and Dhols.”

Suhail Khandwani, trustee of Mahim darga said, “This Dj dhol and tasha is not allowed even in our religion and in the Indian law. We are spreading awareness and are educating the people to curb noise pollution. I have seen a lot of difference and I am sure gradually the noise levels shall come down. We don’t want to force them to stop it.”

The residents who gave the complaint this year had also given a complaint last year. “We are not against any religion or religious celebrations but we want our Right to Peace guaranteed in our constitution. Senior citizens, patients, school children and youngsters preparing for competitive examinations, pets and birds get affected by these noise levels,” said Irfan Machiwala, one of the complainants.