Mazagaon was noisiest during Eid procession

MUMBAI: At 105.3 db, a procession with speakers mounted atop a truck in Mazagaon was the noisiest in the city on Eide-milad on Wednesday, according to environment group Awaaz Foundation. The noise level is equivalent to the sound of a Boeing 707 aircraft at one nautical mile before landing. The second highest noise level was recorded at Mohammad Ali Road (99.4 db) (louder than a power mower). Last year, the noise levels on Eid-e-milad touched 105.2 db.

According to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, residential areas can have a maximum noise of 55db in the day and 45db at night. The World Health Organization states that noise levels up to 70db are acceptable to the human ear, but continuous exposure to noise in the range of 100db110db can result in sensorineural hearing loss, which usually occurs suddenly.

Awaaz Foundation wrote to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai police commissioner Subodh Jaiswal attaching the noise report. “In accordance with Supreme Court and Bombay High Court (HC) orders, maximum zonewise permissible decibel levels are required to be maintained at all times and religion is not grounds for violation of noise rules,” the letter read.

“The number of processions this year was less than last year, but decibel levels were similar to last year,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation.

The Mumbai police said there were a few cases of noise violations.

“We had asked our officers on field to monitor the noise levels along with traffic violations. Cases of violation will be filed in the HC,” said a senior official from the Mumbai police.