Mumbai: Noise pollution continues as people burst crackers at prominent places

MUMBAI: On Monday till late in the night post 10 pm, the noise pollution continued with people bursting of crackers at prominent places such as Shivaji Park and Marine drive in Mumbai touching 107 and 109 decibel levels respectively.
Ideally no bursting of crackers is permitted after 10pm as decibel levels permitted in a residential area are 55 dB during daytime and 45dB during night time.
However, the noise level was comparatively lesser than the one recorded previously -- 112.3dB in 2019, 114.1dB in 2018 and 117.8dB in 2017. In 2020 the level was 105.5dB during the covid times. In 2021 the readings were not taken again due to covid restrictions.
"At Marine Drive, the noise continued beyond 11.45pm although there was heavy police presence. At Shivaji Park where a number of people congregated within the Park, crackers continued beyond 12 midnight without any visible police presence. I received numerous complaints from citizens at Juhu, Bandra, Worli, some of whom also tweeted the police," said Sumaria Abdulali of Awaaz foundation that carried out noise measures.
"Crackers are permitted to be burst upto 10pm under the Noise Rules and Court Orders. Though no crackers containing toxic chemicals are permitted under Supreme Court Orders, their presence was detected in a separate test and heavy smoke filled the air at sites where crackers were burst on Diwali night," she pointed out.
As usual the main diwali day was not peaceful though given the frequent bursting of firecrackers for a longer duration, however the manufacturers of the crackers showed a higher level of awareness about their deafening impact on human life. Of the 16 varieties of crackers tested recently for their noise levels not a single crossed the prescribed decibel limit of 120. The gradual control on crackers' noise levels, said Sumaira Abdul Ali the convenor of the Awaaz foundation, is a welcome change as in 2021 and 2019 two and three varieties of crackers had defied the limits respectively. In 2020, because of Covid-19 restrictions, the noise tests were not conducted.
The Foundation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board have tested firecracker noise levels since 2004. In the early years, 100% of crackers exceeded maximum permissible noise levels. In 2010, the maximum level was 130.6dB(A), well beyond the World Health Organization's safe exposure limit and the legally permissible limit of 125dB (A). Ideally the WHO limit stands at 80 decibels but since crackers' noise lasts for a few seconds a limit of 120 has been allowed. However, the noise from collective fireworks across the city for a period four-five hours always adversely impacts the human health, say experts.