Din and Noise

Image courtesy of Hindustan Times

From the Hindustan Times comes an article concerning the noise levels in Mumbai as election season ends and Diwali begins. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and members of the Awaaz Foundation, including noted environmental activist Sumaira Abdulali, have monitored the decibel levels of fireworks for several years and have had some success in reducing the sound level of the more popular pyrotechnics. The activists' campaign aims to keep decibel levels below 125dB for a single explosion -- still loud (roughly that of a 747 taking off), but quieter than the fireworks used in years past.

I first heard of Abdulali in a Washington Post article from last year, which is well worth reading. Abdulali has been monitoring Mumbai's noise levels for years (the city was named noisiest in the world just this past summer) through the Awaaz Foundation, which she founded in 2002. Awaaz and the MPCB have been monitoring fireworks decibel levels since 2004.

In August 2012, Awaaz released a free mobile app that allows residents to upload readings from their smartphone, thus mapping the sound levels throughout the Mumbai. Her efforts have led the State Government of Maharashtra to conduct noise pollution studies and institute more effective noise ordinances.

I'm hoping to write more about Abdulali in the coming weeks, time and resources permitting, so be sure to check this space for more on her work.