Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday that In a major crackdown on noise pollution, 3,367 loudspeakers have been removed from places of worship across Maharashtra.
Out of these, 1,608 loudspeakers were removed from Mumbai alone, including those atop mosques, temples, churches, and gurudwaras all without triggering any religious or communal tension, the CM noted.
The action is in line with Supreme Court guidelines aimed at reducing noise levels in residential and public areas, particularly during religious ceremonies.
CM Fadnavis congratulated the Mumbai Police for executing the removals in a peaceful and efficient manner, and said the High Court had expressed satisfaction with the state government’s compliance on this matter.
CM Fadnavis issued a clear warning in the House: “Going forward, if loudspeakers are found in violation of norms in any police station's jurisdiction, the officer in charge will be held accountable.”
The remark came in response to a pointed question raised by MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar, who used a Calling Attention motion to highlight the disturbance caused by loudspeakers installed at religious places. He emphasized that while Maharashtra respects all religions, no one should be allowed to violate sound pollution laws under the guise of faith.
“Today, there is not a single unauthorized loudspeaker on any place of worship in Mumbai,” Fadnavis declared.
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray raised concerns regarding festival seasons, during which loudspeakers are traditionally used for community celebrations and religious events.
He asked whether police would continue to trouble mandals despite having all necessary permissions. “If mandals have the required approvals, will police harass them? And will such officers face action?” Thackeray asked.
CM Fadnavis assured the House that temporary permissions will be granted for festivals, provided they adhere to noise regulations. “As per the law, we allow loudspeakers with a decibel limit clearly defined. No one should face inconvenience due to these temporary permissions,” he said, adding that local police must act within legal parameters.
Moreover, NCP MLA Sana Malik-Shaikh used the debate to raise a broader environmental concern, noting that the existing decibel limits under the Environment Protection Act of 1986 are outdated.
She explained that current norms are 55 dB during the day and 45 dB at night in residential areas, and up to 75 dB in industrial zones are frequently violated due to modern urban and religious activity.
“This issue falls under the jurisdiction of the Central Government, but if Maharashtra conducts a state-wide survey and submits a joint recommendation, the Centre may revise the outdated limits,” she said. Malik-Shaikh also pointed out that noise levels inside the Assembly hall itself often exceed 60 dB, exceeding the safe limit.
According to a note shared by the NCP party, CM Fadnavis acknowledged her concerns and agreed to study the current decibel limits. He promised that the state government would send formal recommendations to the Centre seeking revised norms that reflect present-day realities.
The Chief Minister provided a breakdown of the 1,608 loudspeakers removed in Mumbai:
1,149 from mosques
48 from temples
10 from churches
4 from gurudwaras
147 from other religious sites
