The state government’s plan to revise the demarcation of silence zones in the city has run into trouble. Awaaz Foundation, the NGO which played a key role in amending the noise pollution rules, has registered its protest against the plan to soften the rules and remap the silence zones.

“The state plans to remap the silence zones by redefining hospitals and educational institutions. We feel that the primary motive for this is to enable politicians hold rallies even near hospitals,” said Sumaira Abdulali, Awaaz Foundation. Recently, while Union minister for environment Jairam Ramesh was in Mumbai, the environment department had approached him with the plan to re-demarcate the silence zones.

Currently, silence zones include courts, hospitals and educational institutions, and loud noise and fire crackers are prohibited around 100 metres from the silence zones. “We have been measuring noise levels during festivals and special functions since 2003 and these levels far exceed those prescribed, especially in sensitive areas which have been defined as silence zones when loudspeakers or firecrackers are used,” she said.

However, those who support the demarcation plan have a different view. “There is either a nursing home or a school or college at every corner. If all these are marked as silence zones, how can we function,” said Naresh Dahibawkar, secretary, Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, the coordination committee of all Ganesh pandals in the city.

According to Abdulali, the overwhelming majority of residents of Mumbai are against being disturbed by noise from politically-controlled festivals and rallies. “This negative step would result in long-term adverse health effects on residents. We have asked the union minister to intervene in this matter and ensure that this plan does not materialise,” Abdulali said.

– DNA

A Kalyan NGO has come up with an innovative way to embarrass the civic body which has long ignored potholes in the area. A 14-feet high memento dedicated to Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has been installed barely 30 meters from the civic body office at Shivaji Chowk in Kalyan west. The citation thanks the civic body for doing a splendid job with the potholes.

“In the citation we have thanked KDMC for the potholes which are generating massive revenues for orthopaedics and garages. Thanks to these potholes citizens have broken backs and necks,” said Sachin Kadam, founder of Sankalp Prathisthan, responsible for the installation.

Kadam added that initially the NGO had planned to hand over the citation to senior KDMC officials and politicians. But then they realised that people would not come to know about it, so they put it up in a public place. “If the KDMC takes it away because we haven’t sought any permission to keep it, we would assume that the award has been accepted. And if it does not, people will know that we have conferred it to KDMC for the potholes,” Kadam said.

Ramesh Jadhav, mayor, KDMC said, “In various parts of Kalyan, massive work on underground drainage and water lines is in progress. There is no point in repairing these roads and incurring huge expenditure.”

Mumbai Mirror