TOI : While Festival Gets Softer On The Ears, No Heed Is Paid To 10pm Noise Deadline : Nov 12,2007

Mumbai: This Diwali was a quieter festival as compared to previous years with people preferring to use light-based, noiseless crackers. However, in most parts of Mumbai and the suburbs, the 10pm deadline was broken, a survey has revealed.

The Supreme Court has disallowed the bursting of all noisy crackers after 10pm. Even pre-10pm rules were not adhered to, said noise pollution activists and residents. Before 10pm, crackers of upto 65 dB can be lit in residential areas and 45 dB in silent zones. Fireworks of upto 120 dB, which manufacturers have permission to make, can only be lit in open grounds.

Whether it was Bandra, Worli or Borivali, noisy crackers could be heard after 10pm, leading to several complaints from residents to the police control room. The survey by the NGO Awaaz has shown that at around 10.55pm on Friday a reading of 120 dB was recorded at Nariman Point near Hotel Oberoi. Near Sena Bhavan, Dadar, 115 dB was recorded at around 11.30pm.

At Pali Hill, Bandra (West), a predominantly residential area, crackers were heard upto 2.30 on Saturday morning, the survey revealed. At Kantwadi Road, Bandra, crackers were burst after 10 pm despite complaints from residents to police.

Several residents were unhappy that the law wasn’t properly enforced. “We don’t know about decibel levels, but the sounds from crackers were really annoying and we didn’t see any policemen doing checks,’’ said Yogesh Datare from Kalina.

“We could not sleep till late midnight. The police were not patrolling in the area and even after we called up the police chowky they did not turn up for

over an hour,’’

complained Supriya Patel, of Little Flower society at IC Colony, Borivali.

Senior citizens and hospital patients can face severe problems during indiscriminate bursting of crackers. A reading of 105 dB was taken at Jaslok Hospital, a silence zone, at 9.45pm.

Children too faced difficulty. “My child was waking up in shock every now and then when a cracker burst. We made a mistake of staying back in Mumbai during Diwali,’’ said Ashish Digvijakar, a resident of Mhada colony, Goregoan.

High post-10pm noise was also detected at Marine Drive near the Police Gymnkhana, Girgaum Chowaptty and Dadar. At Worli Sea-face the noise was comparatively low (100 dB), but it was heightened by the burning of plastic and thermocole, the survey said.

Sumaira Abdulali, founder president of Awaaaz, said, “The state has failed to inform people about the ban on noisy fireworks after 10pm. People are now aware of the adverse effects of noisy crackers, but they are sill confused about the deadline.’’ However, an interesting positive trend involves housing societies collectively bursting crackers, thus reducing the number of fireworks used. In areas like Shivaji Park, Andheri and Dahisar, housing societies opted for such celebrations. At Ashiward housing society, Dahisar, members collected a fund to burst crackers. “Such community celebrations, especially outside silence or residential zones, should be encouraged,’’ Abdulali said. “The state can also organise laser shows and other cultural events during the festival to reduce sound and air pollution.’’

A DIFFERENT DIWALI

About 4,000 followers of Mumbai-based spiritual group, Srimad Rajchandra Ashram, gathered at the remnants of a palace in Dharampur in Gujarat to celebrate Diwali in a unique way.

The group, which is inspired by Jain philosophy, celebrated Diwali, keeping the basic Jain ideals of ahimsa (non-violence) and jayna (altruism) in mind. “Diwali is the festival of light and we were uplifted from spiritual darkness,’’ said Komal Shah, a member of Jivanarpit (youth wing of Srimad Rajchandra Ashram) and a student.

Srimad Rajchandra Ashram believes that festivals should be free of ritualism. “Diwali is a festival to rejoice the victory of good over evil. We performed a bhav yagna (sacrifice of ill feelings) and we destroyed our negative energy in an imaginary holy fire,’’ said Shah, a student.

“Crackers is forbidden at the ashram as it is a form of hinsa (violence),’’ said Shah. The Dharampur palace is lit with diyas instead of electricity, which “causes hinsa to insects’’. Jivanarpit uses the occasion to collect funds for the Jivadaya trust that provides for animals. “It is our duty to extend charity to animals,’’ said 65-year-old Vasumati Shah.

— Mansi Choksi | TNN

Publication:Times of India Mumbai; Date:Nov 12, 2007; Section:Times City; Page Number:5

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