Ganesh Chaturthi: Day 1 of Visarjan makes loud noise

Anti-noise pollution activists measuring noise levels across Mumbai on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi immersions on Saturday found the decibel levels to be even higher than that recorded on the 10th day immersion in 2016.

Activist and convenor of Awaaz Foundation Sumaira Abdulali, who recorded noise levels across Mumbai on Saturday between 10 pm and 12 am found the highest noise levels of 116.8 dB where near Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar (reading taken at 10.49 pm), where drums and metal cylinders/plates were being played post 10 pm. "All the readings were taken in the extended time period of 10 pm to midnight in residential areas that has educational institutions, hospitals, religious places and courts," she said.

Abdulali shared that there has been an increase in noise levels this year where the one and half day of Ganpati, (which is comparatively silent than the other days) was found to be noisier than all the days of last year's Ganpati festival. "It can be seen as a direct result of the State Government's reluctance to curb noise pollution. Suggesting that there are no silence zones today would send a message as if all hospitals, educational institutes and courts vanished over night," she said.

She said that it was extremely important for all citizens and institutes adversely affected by the increased noise levels from any source to complain directly to the Chief Minister and make their displeasure known.

Even the twitterati was busy complaining about the high noise levels across Mumbai. National Award winning film-maker Apurva Asrani tweeted: "11pm, Kokilaben hospital in Andheri, Mumbai. Critical patients unable to sleep due to loud music from processions downstairs." In another tweet, he reached out to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying, "My father is in the hospital ICU and unable to rest due to noise from processions. Hospitals must be notified as silence zones."

Noisiest areas

Matunga 10.42 pm - 103dB
Opposite Sena Bhavan, Dadar 10.49 pm - 116.8dB
Nehru Centre 11.07 pm - 101.4dB
Tardeo 11.16 pm - 103.4dB
Babulnath 11.28 pm - 109.9dB
Girgaum 11.37 pm - 101dB