Mumbai: The Navratri festival is in full swing, with Mumbaikars pandal-hopping and enjoying garba-dandiya dances. The celebrations are drawing lakhs of people and despite noise pollution guidelines which mandate that music systems be put off post 10 pm, rules are being flouted at several venues.  

A senior police official said that keeping in mind the flavour of the season, the police would allow revelers to dance to the music turned on till midnight on the last two days of the festival i.e. Thursday and Friday.

Last year, the Bombay high court had directed event organisers to abide by Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and Supreme Court guidelines in this regard.

Sound limits were to be kept below 60 decibels (dB) in residential areas and loudspeakers could be used with due permission in silence zones only to be shut off at 10 pm. However, music at public grounds goes on well beyond 10 pm and stops only after the police intervenes.

Sumaira Abdulali, founder, Awaaz Foundation, told The Asian Age, “It is very difficult to keep tabs on violation of noise pollution rules that occurs during Navratri as these celebrations take place inside societies. Stopping the use of loudspeakers post 10pm happens only after locals complain to the police.”

Ms Abdulali added, “I appeal to all the people to lodge a complaint about these violations post 10 pm. Complaints are not entertained before 10 pm, but complaints after 10 pm will be taken seriously.”

Places where noise limit rules are flouted include areas in suburban Mumbai such as Santacruz, Goregaon, Malad and Ghatkopar.