With the rule relaxed during festivities so as to not hurt religious sentiment, citizens still suffer deafening levels from processions every second day. Silence zones are of little use then
With the rule relaxed during festivities so as to not hurt religious sentiment, citizens still suffer deafening levels from processions every second day. Silence zones are of little use then
Septuagenarian and critically-dependent Kamalesh K cringes with discomfort at the loud drumming emanating from Holi revelers playing 'Nasik' dhols and a loud Casio while tagging along a mobile music system on a handcart, way past at midnight. Insulin reliant, the Colaba-based resident finds her blood pressure levels fluctuating drastically and her heart "pounding like crazy" each time she hears the maddening music.
"What used to be fun at one time has turned into an ordeal nowadays," she says. "Earlier, the drums were restricted to dhols and katchis, but now with electronic machines and loud-speakers, the music has turned into ear-splitting noise," says Kamalesh. On being informed about the Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation's most recent move declaring 1,113 locations as 'silence zones' across the city, she scoffs it off as "bunkum".
While a huge lobby seeks to silence noise, the same will seek refuge in excuses offered by religious text and reet riwaaz to conveniently bend the law when it comes to personal agenda.
Of the total 437.71 sq km of Mumbai, more than 40 per cent of it comes under the quiet zone with 211 zones being in South Mumbai itself. Great on paper, isn't it? But then, it's uni-focal tackling the issue of noise pollution in isolation. While noise as a single-largest means of pollution has every reason to be curbed, with not a single sane reason in support, one must realise that there's an implied right to 'make' noise that comes associated with a range of other rights.
Also, a level of tolerance too comes into play in enforcing the law. Noise is caused by day-to-day ventures such as running generators, traffic, industrial units and an insensitive citizenry. For example, you can't actually arrest someone for a five-minute drill job that exceeds permissible noise-levels just because he has to push in a nail to help support a weather-frame to protect his commercial establishment.
With the freedom to practise religion, comes the freedom to perform ceremonies. Now, if the place of worship or reverence happens to be a permanent structure on the road or a make-shift mandap during Ganeshutsav, how do you silence the Navratri artis performed daily till it's time for immersion? And, if locally played azaans or artis are a wee loud when played on an electronic speaker to reach out to all, how do you protest them without ruffling religious feathers? Ironically, the very democracy that gave you the right to protest also snatches it away from you.
The courts relax noise-pollution norms during festivities lest it hurt public sentiment. Fact remains: the same festivities don't stop wreaking havoc on health, but then, that is of little consequence.
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Legally speaking
The Department of Explosives divides firecrackers into two categories (i) sound-emitting firecrackers, and (ii) colour/light emitting firecrackers. There is a complete ban on sound-emitting firecrackers between 10 pm and 6 am. However, it isn't necessary to impose restrictions as to time on bursting of colour/light emitting firecrackers.
Where loudspeakers are concerned, the noise level at the boundary of the public place, where a loudspeaker or public address system or any other noise source is being used shall not exceed 10 dB(A) above the ambient noise standards for the area or 75 dB(A) whichever is lower.
Also, no one shall beat a drum or tom-tom or blow a trumpet or beat or sound any instrument or use any sound amplifier at night (between 10 pm and 6 am) except in public emergencies. The peripheral noise level of a privately owned sound system shall not exceed by more than 5 dB(A) than the ambient air quality standard specified for the area in which it is used, at the boundary of the private place.
No horn should be allowed to be used at night (between 10 pm and 6 am) in residential areas except in exceptional circumstances.
...And medically!
The most obvious harm that occurs directly owing to noise pollution is a loss in hearing. The elevated sound levels cause trauma to the cochlear structure in the inner ear giving rise to irreversible hearing loss. Very loud sounds in a particular frequency range damage the cochlea's hair cells, reducing the ear's ability to hear those frequencies in the future.
Noise levels are sufficient to constrict arterial blood flow and lead to elevated blood pressure. Also, sound causes elevated adrenaline levels, triggering a narrowing of the blood vessels (vasoconstriction), or independently through medical stress reactions.
Other effects of high noise levels are increased frequency of headaches, fatigue, stomach ulcers and vertigo.
The young may develop speech and reading difficulties owing to their auditory processing functions being compromised when exposed to speech interference levels of noise on a regular basis.
Incidentally, every year during Diwali, sound and air pollution levels go up alarmingly. While the aged, asthmatic, those suffering from neurological disorders, infants and animals are the most affected, the sound of loud firecrackers is known to drive almost every other sane person up the wall.
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