Noise outside Sobo courts as loud as industrial plants
The city’s courts, all of which are Silence Zones, are exposed to noise levels up to 93 decibels (db) — as loud as an industrial plant or the sound of a train travelling at 30km an hour.
Citizens’ group Watchdog Foundation found that noise levels at the Bombay high court, Fort was 89.8db, small causes court, near Metro Cinema (93.2 db), city civil court, Fort (70.4 db) and chief metropolitan magistrates court, near Azad Maidan (68.8 db). The group filed a complaint with the state pollution board on Tuesday about the violation of Silence Zone regulations outside the courts .
The World Health Organisation estimates that long-term exposure to noise levels from 85db to 90db can lead to hearing loss. The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
identify silence zones to have noise levels of 45db and 40db during the day and night respectively. “Incessant honking by motor vehicles has led to the noise pollution problem and violations are taking place at the doorstep of the same court (Bombay high court) that has passed several orders to regulate noise, especially in Silence Zones,” said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee, Watchdog Foundation.
“The pollution board needs to look into the issue and direct the police to levy stricter fines for commuters.”
Egyptian nationa Eman Ahmed, who was consid ered to be the heaviest woman in the world, will leave the city on a 6.30pm flight on Thursday.
A team of doctors handed over a 29-page detailed medical sum mary of Eman, discussing every aspect of her medical condition to officials from VPS Hospital Burjeel, where she will be shifted, on Wednesday.
“We will see her off with simi lar enthusiasm and well wishes at the gate of Saifee Hospital. Her entire logistical management of transport will be taken care of by VPS Healthcare,” said Huzaifa Shehabi, COO of Saifee Hospital
In a final meeting with doc tors, VPS officials were informed about Eman’s current condition neurological and orthopedic complications.
Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, bari atric surgeon and Eman’s treat ing doctor said, “We have agreed on the point that no weight-loss surgeries are to be performed on her in the near future. We informed them about the bed sores and opinion of Dr Satish Modi, orthopaedic surgeon that it’s difficult for her to stand, let along walk, owing to severe mus cle weakness.
“Doctors have also demanded they be informed about any fur ther developments owing to the emotional attachment they have developed with Eman,” he said
Modi opined Eman will need multiple corrective surgeries to straighten her hips and knees