Hyderabad: Wedding joy for some but trouble for many

Hyderabad: When people get married, it’s a time for rejoicing but not for those living in the neighbourhood who have to put up with the noisy baraats every other day.   

Most wedding baraats or processions do not seek the permission of the traffic police because they have to go only a short distance to the function hall, usually within 500 metres’ distance. But, the time taken to cover this distance by the dancing baraatis and the accompanying blaring band can be more than an hour.

On main roads such processions block traffic, and in residential areas, the sound made by the band disturbs the neighbourhood. Daredevil stunts are performed in some processions and crackers are set off, adding to the din. The noise reaches unbearable levels just outside the function hall.

There is rarely any designated parking outside the hall, so cars of guests are parked haphazardly creating a constant din as people arrive and depart. Garbage is often thrown on the road and there is the added nuisance of drunken revellers.

In many areas, police stations are located close to these halls and though the noise and revelry goes on till the early hours of the morning, the police don’t act in the interest of the larger public and demand that rules be followed.

For example, at Red Hills, Saifabad, there are four function halls and a police station located at the entrance of the lane. There is not just one but two wedding processions, one when the groom arrives at the marriage hall for the wedding and the second when the bride is taken to the groom’s house after the wedding. The latter begins in the evening and goes on till late night, attracting many complaints.

Poonam Jain of Radhika Colony, A.S. Rao Nagar, lives next to a hotel. “Whenever the hotel is booked for a wedding, the music played by the band is so loud that the floors vibrate,” she says.

“The drum beating is continuous and extremely harsh to the ear. There are times when the baraat begins at 11 pm. Wedding processions now have focus lights that move in a random direction creating further disturbance.”

Noisy halls disturb silent zone
Halls that are rented out for various functions are being approved in residential zones by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation   even though the Supreme Court has categorised a residential area as a silent zone, with low decibel levels.

Apart from sound pollution, these halls generate bulk garbage and clog up drains. Some have been fined for illegal water connections too.

Abhijith Nair, who filed a complaint with the police and the GHMC, lives near Konejeti Enclave, Gudimalkapur, Mehdipatnam. There are many function halls in this residential zone. He says, “The sound of music and bands is usual but it starts at any time, even at 4 am. This is a purely residential area.”

Mahendra Polapelly of Mallikarjuna colony in old Bowenpally, says the Bhagyashree function hall is located amidst residential houses and schools and almost every day there is a marriage, reception, or birthday party with blaring music from a sound system that operates till late at night.  

“We don’t get proper sleep and peace of mind after coming home from a hectic day at the office. We have a baby and aged parents at home. Residents have been complaining about the noise to the police, but to no avail,” he says.

The GHMC’s town planning authorities say that when applying for building permission, the applicant mentions that it is ‘commercial’ but not that it is a function hall.

“The noise pollution complaints should be directed to the local police station or the pollution control board. The GHMC can act in case there is a building violation like illegal sheds or rooms,” said a senior officer of the GHMC.

Happy union with decibels
‘Noise’ is defined as unwanted sound. Sound that pleases the listeners is music and that which causes pain and annoyance is noise.

The decibel levels that need to be maintained in the following zones, under Environment (Protection) Rules,1986, are

• Industrial area: Day time 75 dB; night time: 70 dB   
• Commercial area: Day time: 65 dB; night time: 55 dB
• Residential area, Day time:  55 dB, night time: 45 dB
• Silence zone: Day time; 50 dB, night time: 40 dB

Licence must be obtained by all parties intending to use loudspeakers or public address system for any occasion.

• Public address system and loudspeakers should not be used at night between 9 pm to 6 am except in closed premises.
• Loudspeakers should be directed at the audience and not away from audience (i.e.not towards the neighbourhood).
• Loudspeakers should not be allowed for advertisement and commercial activities.

Note

• Day time is between 6 am and 9 pm
• Night time is between 9 pm and 6 am
• Silent zone is an area up to 100 metres around premises such as hospitals, educational institutions and courts. Silent zones are to be declared by the competent authority (like the GHMC, Pollution control Board).
• Use of vehicular horns, loudspeakers, traditional band and bursting of crackers is banned in areas mar-ked silent zones.