In a significant step toward reducing noise pollution, Mumbai has officially been declared free of loudspeakers at religious sites. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during a legislative session, where it was revealed that 1,608 loudspeakers had been removed across the city. The removals included 1,149 from mosques, 48 from temples, 10 from churches, four from gurudwaras, and 147 from other religious establishments.
The action was carried out following repeated concerns raised by BJP legislators regarding unregulated loudspeaker usage and a perceived lack of enforcement by the police. It was stressed by the ruling party that laws must be uniformly applied across communities.
A state-wide implementation of a standard operating procedure for loudspeaker removal has been underway, and it was confirmed that over 3,367 loudspeakers have been taken down across Maharashtra. A compliance report submitted to the Bombay High Court was reportedly met with approval, suggesting that the judiciary is satisfied with the government’s response.
All removals have been executed without conflict, and no legal cases have been filed against individuals during the process. Community cooperation has been cited as a key reason behind the peaceful execution of the policy. However, it was cautioned that any attempt to reinstall the loudspeakers would invite legal action. Local police stations have been instructed to take accountability for any violations that occur within their jurisdictions.
During the same session, attention was drawn to the outdated Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules of 2000 by NCP legislator Sana Malik. It was pointed out that these regulations are based on noise levels from 1986 and no longer reflect the actual ambient noise in present-day cities. In response, the Chief Minister agreed that the regulations require revision and stated that the state would conduct a study and submit its recommendations to the central government.
Concerns were also raised about the possible impact of these regulations on festivals such as Ganeshotsav. In reply, it was assured that religious and cultural celebrations would not face unnecessary restrictions, as long as the organisers adhered to permissible decibel limits. This assurance followed a request made by Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray. The government’s approach appears to be a blend of strict regulation and sensitive enforcement, aimed at balancing religious freedoms with the right to a noise-free environment.