Mumbai commissioner of police Datta D. Padsalgikar on Monday unveiled his department’s new awareness programme titled “horn flu” where citizens will be requested to honk only when required while driving vehicles. With as many as 1,500 cases of excessive honking reported last month, the initiative, according to Mr Padsalgikar, has been undertaken to create awareness about the need to reduce noise pollution.
“Horn flu” was unveiled on Monday by Mr Padsalgikar and Milind Bharambe, joint commissioner of police (traffic), along with anti-noise pollution activist Sumeira Abdul Ali, the Awaaz Foundation and Indian Medical Association (IMA). The name “horn flu” is to stress upon the fact that it is an illness to press the horn when not necessary as the same affects the human heart very badly. In a recent anti-honking drive held a month-and-a-half ago, traffic police registered over 15,000 cases in 15 to 20 days which itself says a lot about the incidence of honking in Mumbai.
During Diwali, Mumbai police had undertaken a campaign across schools and housing societies to create awareness about the pollution caused by bursting noisy crackers.
Ms Abdul Ali said, “Last year, noise levels recorded during Diwali were 123 decibels while this year, they were 113.5 decibels.” Mr Bharambe added, “So, Mumbai police started this campaign so that people will become aware of and reduce the use of horns.”
Mr Padsalgikar said, “We held sessions all over the city, and made appeals to citizens through various channels. We also took immediate action whenever a complaint about loud firecrackers being burst was made over phone or personally. We registered over 1,000 cases such cases this year.”
Members of the IMA which has tied up with Mumbai police on this matter said, “Continuous and loud honking gives rise to palpitations and blood pressure problems, which has an adverse effect on the heart. It is a self-inflicted assault.”
