With the sound levels on the fifth day of Ganeshotsav touching last year's noise level, it remains to be seen what the situation will be on Anant Chaturdashi, the last day when most sarvajanik mandals bring out their idols with pomp.
The recorded sound levels haven't dipped despite the court's order restricting the use of Dolby sound systems until it's next hearing today.
"Despite the ban, the DJs were playing music while the police were mute spectators," said Dr Mahesh Bedekar, a Thane resident and an anti-noise petitioner in the High Court. "When 30-40 dhols are being played together, the sound is as hazardous as loudspeakers. I could not hear what the relatives of my patient, who is in the ICU, were speaking because of the noise."
Some dhol tasha bands were seen using amplifiers and loudspeakers, which resulted in a cacophony. "Traditional instruments need to be played in a traditional manner. Many (bands) enjoy the support of politicians, and feel that the activists and doctors have their own interests in anti-noise campaigns, and try to prove some point by adding to the noise. It is practically difficult to remove all noise but it can be reduced if everyone understands that it is for the public health. Even those who play such instruments or the DJs themselves are being affected by the loud noise." added Dr Bedekar.
Meanwhile, the DJ industry, which has largely been grounded during this year's Ganesh Chaturthi, still hopes that today's court hearing gives interim relief.
"One needs to take into account that the ambient sound level in the city has risen since the noise rules were drafted. A sound system's volume can be controlled and the authorities need to realise that and introduce regulative measures," said Zura Braganza, Treasurer, Professional Audio and Lighting Association, a body representing over 1400 DJs.
"Even without us, the noise has not reduced. For two years we have been targeted, next, it might be the dhol tasha pathaks," said Nitin Kolekar, a DJ who still hasn't got a single order this year.
