Police want activist to educate them in noise pollution rules

Two days after the Bombay high court issued contempt notices against two police officers from Mahim for allowing noise rules to be flouted during the Mahim fair, the Mumbai police are taking steps to educate the force about the issue.

The police have roped in antinoise activist Sumaira Abdulali to train senior police officers in enforcing noise pollution rules on Wednesday — International Noise Awareness Day.

Abdulali’s NGO Awaaz Foundation also started a ‘Awaaz Bandh 2017: A Selfie Campaign’ on social media to highlight the issue.

“There is no better way to create awareness about the issue than through training law enforcement authorities. Both the transport department and the police are taking the lead on creating awareness about noise,” said Abdulali.

Under the campaign, Abdulali has asked people affected by noise pollution to take selfies by covering their ears in support of International Noise Awareness Day.

“It is a simple and effective way to convey the message that noise disturbs us and the campaign can be easily spread on across social media portals,” said Abdulali.

Last week, Bombay high court issued show cause notices of contempt against the senior police inspector of the Mahim police station and assistant commissioner of police Mahim division for using loudspeakers inside the police station compound last year during the Mahim Dargah Urus festival.

HT was the first to report on December 13 last year that the inaugural procession at the Mahim Fair was as loud as 117.3 decibel (db) (between 2.15pm and 3pm )– which is equivalent to the sound of a rock drilling machine. The procession was carried out by the Mumbai police, the enforcement authority against noise pollution violations, near Mahim police station, a silence zone. The violation was highlighted by Awaaz.