Lights out! Mumbai’s silent war on glare, and ‘killer’ billboards

LED hoardings on Vashi Highway. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Advertisements, endorsements, and beautification may seem appealing, but their impact extends beyond mere economic concerns; they also have ecological and environmental repercussions. The growing use of artificial light, particularly through bright billboards and floodlights, results in unchecked and unintended illumination, causing severe harm to all forms of life, including humans.

Concerned about the ‘very distracting' bright digital billboards, a group of NGOs wrote to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, claiming that these billboards in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are causing ‘killer' light pollution. In a letter dated November 1, the collective, which includes non-profit groups like NatConnect Foundation, Watchdog Foundation, and Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan, warned the state government about the possibility of traffic accidents caused by these eye-catching billboards.

In a two-part series, mid-day sheds light on the escalating issue of light pollution in the city and its surrounding areas. This phenomenon causes birds to migrate at the wrong time of the season, deters nighttime pollinators like bats, disrupts underwater ecosystems, and even diminishes melatonin production in humans.

Dr Shashi Kapoor, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon

B N Kumar, director of the NatConnect Foundation, has now approached the traffic police and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Kumar, along with the other NGOs, is planning to file a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against ‘light pollution.'

In response to the email complaint by the collective of NGOs, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has forwarded the matter to Roads and PWD Secretary Sadashiv Salunkhe with directions to address the issue. "We shall follow up using the RTI application route. We have also written to ASCI and expect ASCI to bring this to the notice of its members, even if it may not be in a position to take any direct action," Kumar said.

What is light pollution?

The improper or excessive use of artificial light, often referred to as ‘light pollution,' can lead to significant environmental repercussions for both humans and wildlife, impacting our climate. LED lighting, in particular, is known for its bluer and more intense illumination, often accompanied by a harsh flicker, whether visible or not. Exposure to LED lighting poses a considerable threat to both humans and wildlife.

Outdoor lighting with a high blue light content is more likely to contribute to light pollution due to its broader geographic reach compared to other lighting sources. Regrettably, LEDs are extensively used in outdoor lighting, screens, and various electronic displays, leading to an abundance of blue light.

Furthermore, digital advertising screens also utilise this type of LED lighting, exacerbating the issue of unnecessary light pollution. ‘Light pollution' refers to the overall effect of excessive and misdirected artificial lighting. Currently, many major countries, including India, do not have standards or guidelines for addressing light pollution.

Battle against ‘light pollution'

In 2016, Nilesh Desai, a Mumbai resident, raised objections against the giant floodlights set up by Wilson Gymkhana in front of his house, complaining about the ‘nuisance.' After a two-year-long battle, the government and Mumbai civic body ordered the removal of the lights in 2018. However, this was only a temporary measure, according to Desai.

For the last eight years, Desai, an information technology professional, has been fighting against the excessive and obtrusive glare of floodlights in his neighbourhood. He filed numerous complaints with state and civic authorities regarding the nuisance of light pollution along Mumbai's Marine Drive, a scenic curved beachfront promenade. Desai recounted, "The situation was so bad; I used to ask my children not to look outside windows as it may harm their eyes. We put up thick curtains in our houses to block out the glare from floodlights installed by Wilson Gymkhana trespassing into our residence.

Many in our building used blinds to block the light so they could watch television in the evening." Desai is currently dedicated to filing a public interest litigation (PIL) addressing the issue of light pollution, highlighting how this problem arises from the excessive, inappropriate, and misdirected use of artificial lighting.

In 2017, Sumaira Abdulali, a Mumbai-based activist and the convenor of Awaaz Foundation, pointed out, "Unlike air, noise, and water pollution, people often do not consider light pollution a significant issue, or an issue at all. Sadly, there are no existing laws or guidelines to regulate light pollution. Light pollution can be distracting for drivers, motorists, and disrupt people's sleep patterns." She emphasised the urgent need for the BMC and the state government to establish standards for the installation of billboards and the use of lighting to address this issue promptly.

According to Abdulali, many countries and cities worldwide have standards for lighting and implement ‘dark sky areas' where bright artificial lights are prohibited. Some of these areas are visited for stargazing. She said, "It is a known fact that bright lighting and the pollution caused by it disrupt patterns and can be harmful to the ecosystem. But while there is a policy for national parks, in India, we do not have guidelines on lighting and restrictions or standards to prevent light pollution.'

Impact on ecosystem

- Scientists worldwide say that people's sleep could be impaired as a result of artificial lights, which would be detrimental to human health and well-being.

According to ‘Buglife', The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, a Europe-based organisation dedicated to conservation, education, and policy change to protect insects, artificial light affects mating, feeding, navigation, and development, for example, in moths. Light pollution directly contributes to the decline of many insect species.

- According to DarkSky International, a group of over 2,000 volunteer advocates worldwide that protect the night sky using education, advocacy, retrofits, and community science, light pollution affects migratory birds by disrupting their natural movement patterns, or causing them to mate too early, leading to declining populations. Artificial light can cause nocturnal birds to wander off course and become exposed to danger.

What experts say

A research article titled ‘Studying Light Pollution as an Emerging Environmental Concern in India,' published in the Journal of Urban Management in September 2022, was authored by Komal Kaushik, Soumya Nair, and Arif Ahamad from Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi.

The research article reveals, "A study conducted from January 2019 showed a consistent increase in outdoor lighting over the past two decades and the adverse effects it has been inflicting on various regions of India. New Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh have reported high levels of light pollution, with a further escalation observed from 1993 to 2013."

It also highlights, "The influx of urban populations and changes in lifestyles have led to the heightened utilization of various lighting systems in our cities, to the extent that some cities, such as Mumbai and New York City, have earned the moniker ‘the cities that never sleep.' While this may contribute significantly to the economy, it has resulted in a greater harm - light pollution - with little to no public awareness."

Dr Shashi Kapoor, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, said, "LED lights, laser shows, and excessive bright lights are detrimental to the eyes. There are numerous theories suggesting that exposure to bright and excessive lights can disrupt sleep patterns, mood, and metabolism. In addition to these harmful effects, excessive light penetrating residential areas constitutes an intrusion of privacy. Therefore, guidelines and parameters are needed to determine the permissible brightness levels in lighting and the types of lasers allowed in laser shows."