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Noise levels still high

And the findings are quite frightful. While the Supreme Court has reiterated that noise levels should not exceed the ceiling set by law — 55 decibels (dBs) during daytime and 45 dBs after 10 pm – even during festivals, politicians of all parties try to bring pressure on the cops to relax the noise levels.

The apex court had allowed governments to extend the deadline for the playing of music in terms of time – till midnight – on a few days in a year; unfortunately, many misinterpret this and continue to play loudspeakers even beyond the deadline. And the police fail to take action.

Many ordinary citizens are also reluctant to call up the police control room to complain about the noise levels, fearing retaliation from the organisers of these events. But activists are now encouraging residents to measure noise levels — by either acquiring a meter, which costs about Rs2,000 – or by downloading apps on their handsets and capturing the noise levels.

Says Sumaira Abdulali of the Awaaz Foundation: “Anyone who has an Android phone, an iPhone or an iPad can download a free application to measure noise levels. It would be very useful if complaints can be made to the police with decibel readings.”

Sumaira admits that the reading might not be very accurate, but the difference won’t be too much. For instance, if a resident records a noise level of 90 dB on her app, a noise meter may reveal 85 or 88 dB, but not 45 or 50 dB.

Another anti-noise activist, Sudhir Badami, went around recording noise levels in suburbs including Ghatkopar, Kandivali and Borivali during the Navratri festival. “At all these spots the noise levels crossed the permissible limits, at times touching a high of 110 dB,” says Sudhir. Sumaira had recorded noise levels of 117.3 dB during the Janmasthami festival and an intolerable 121.4 dB during the recent Ganesh festival.

Activists say that policemen are keen to crack down on those generating noise, but are often restrained by politicians who do not want to be seen as interfering when their constituents appear to be having a good time.