Kanwariyas rattle Delhi quiet
New Delhi, July 21 -- Noise pollution, blocked roads and traffic diversions marked the increased rush of Kanwariyas into the Capital, which serves as a thoroughfare on their way to and back from the Ganges. Residents of south and southeast Delhi complained of disruption to their daily lives, and also raised health concerns, alleging boom boxes were being played loudly after 10pm beyond permissible limits.
Delhi Police officers told HT that regulating "random" and unruly groups that enter Delhi from other states is tough, as they sometimes turn "aggressive".
"During the interstate meetings held before the start of the Kanwar Yatra, we had asked our counterparts in Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh to take measures to stop the menace of high volume music played on boom boxes and seize vehicles violating norms of the Motor Vehicle Act and Noise Pollution Act. If we try to seize their boom box-fitted vehicles here, there have been instances of Kanwariyas turning violent. In such situations, we usually issue a challan," a police officer said.
Bindra Gurpreet, president of Vasant Vihar residents' welfare association, said, "Kanwariyas have been going through our colony since the day before yesterday. I thought they were supposed to march on main roads. It's very noisy. residents have been complaining about loud music, which goes on till 2am. The law says that you cannot play music more than 45 decibels after 10pm, but we can feel these Kanwairyas playing music at 100 decibels (dB). Our community dogs are also frightened."
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) permits a maximum noise level in residential areas of 55dB(A) from 6am to 10pm and 45dB(A) from 10pm to 6am.
Amitosh Moitra, secretary of Maharani Bagh RWA, said, "The doors and windows shake.we have complaints that people see a spike in their heart rate."
The Delhi Traffic Police on Sunday issued a traffic advisory, informing that the Agra Canal Road from Kalindi Kunj to Faridabad will remain closed from Monday to Wednesday, due to heavy Kanwariya movement.
The closure is likely to lead to massive snarls on the alternative routes, especially on the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) Flyway, NH-9 and Mathura Road....
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