Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday initiated a suo motu PIL over sound pollution during Ganesh festival. Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale said they did “not find any logic in permissions” granted to play loud music in processions up to midnight, “when otherwise, we are informed that the permission for such processions along with the use of musical instruments, loudspeakers and amplifiers would be only up to 10.00 pm.”The HC issued notice to the state, MPCB and BMC and sought presence of the advocate general Milind Sathe saying the issue was important and sought to know how norms and law are implemented. “No responsible citizen can be permitted to pollute atmosphere, including to create noise pollution by burning firecrackers, which certainly enhances the toxicity of the air causing severe air pollution,” said HC.
