Maharashtra pushes for relaxing norms around Mumbai’s silence zones

Activists accuse government of abdicating fundamental responsibility of ensuring good health of citizens

Published on:

13 Mar 2013, 4:49 pm

The Maharashtra government is once again pushing for relaxing noise regulations around silence zones like educational institutions and hospitals. This has once again pitted the government against anti-noise pollution campaigners who say political pressure is being created to do away with the deterrence effect on offenders.

In mid-February, the chief minister’s office released a booklet, which detailed 50 demands of the state government for which backing was sought from the state’s 37 members of Parliament (MPs) who would then push for these at the Centre. One of these was about changing norms pertaining to silence zones.

Politicians v activists

In September, 2012, Maharashtra home minister announced that all police cases registered across the state against violators of noise pollution norms will be withdrawn. This provoked a fresh campaign against noise pollution in the city
In October 2012, the Shiv Sena was given last opportunity by the Mumbai High Court to organise the political partyÃ”Ã‡Ã–s historic Dussehra rally and was asked to shift the venue, which has remained the same since 1966, to the MMRDA grounds inside the Bandra-Kurla Complex
In the same month, Mulund-based Navyuvak Mitra Mandal was permitted to conduct Navratri festivities in a silence zone till late night

Tweaking rules

Why silence zones are needed

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