TOI : Noise pollution: 581 booked : Nov 12,2007

Mumbai: Mumbai police booked 568 people across the city over Friday and Saturday night for bursting crackers after 10pm in direct violation of a Supreme Court order. Last year, too, the police had made arrests during Diwali, but commissioner D N Jadhav said the force had decided to take stricter action this year.

The crackdown, toughest following the recent drunken driving arrests, will continue till Monday night, said Jadhav.

The police booked 581 people in all, with 568 charged with bursting crackers and 13 others charged with playing music through loudspeakers. Jadhav said the 568 alleged violators were made to pay a deposit of Rs 5,000 each, while the 13 others paid Rs 1,200 each.

“We charged them under the Bombay Police Act and released them after they deposited the money, which they can reclaim from the court,’’ Jadhav said. The court usually fines violators a percentage of the deposit and refunds the rest.

While the police booked 89 people in the eastern suburbs, the most violators were caught in the central zone extending from Byculla to Kurla, where 204 cases were registered. The least number of cases were in north Mumbai, with 55 registered in areas like Dahisar and Goregaon.

Despite the crackdown, several residents said the police were not strict enough. “We don’t know about decibel levels, but the crackers were really annoying and we didn’t see any policemen doing checks,’’ said Yogesh Datare, a resident of Kalina.

A survey conducted on Friday night by the NGO Awaaz showed this Diwali was quieter than last year’s, said Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz. But it was apparent the SC order banning loud noise after 10 pm was being violated, she added.

At 10.55 pm, a reading of 120 dB was recorded at Nariman Point near Hotel Oberoi. Near Sena Bhavan, Dadar, 115 dB was recorded at 11.30 pm. At Pali Hill, crackers were heard till 2.30 am on Saturday.

Abdulali said, “The state has failed to inform people about the ban on noisy fireworks after 10 pm. People are now aware of the adverse effects of noisy crackers, but they are still confused about the deadline.’’

Police chief says the force was stricter this year with violators

568 people were booked for bursting crackers after 10pm on Friday and Saturday; 13 others were charged with playing loud music

Anti-noise activists say the govt has not made enough efforts to publicise the 10pm cracker deadline

Publication:Times Of India Mumbai; Date:Nov 12, 2007; Section:Front Page; Page Number:1