New Delhi : The streets of Delhi reverberated with blaring devotional music late Saturday night as Kanwar Yatra processions moved through the capital, with trucks fitted with booming loudspeakers, violating noise pollution norms with impunity. Despite the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) capping noise levels in residential areas at 55dB(A) during the day and 45dB(A) at night, authorities largely turned a blind eye to these blatant violations, reported the Reddit.
Residents across the city, from Raja Garden to Vasant Vihar, complained about sleepless nights and helplessness, while police either ignored or gently requested the kanwariyas to lower volumes—rarely enforcing the law. In some areas, boombox-laden vehicles even passed near hospitals, intensifying concerns over health and public nuisance.
Triveni Mahajan, a resident of Friends Colony East, said, “Festivals are meant to bring peace, not anxiety. But what we see now is uncontrolled noise, traffic chaos, and suffering for the sick and elderly.”
The authorities have set up 374 camps for kanwariyas across the city, contributing further to traffic snarls and urban disruptions. Yet, enforcement of noise limits remains minimal. A transport department official revealed that most of these vehicles neither seek permission nor follow sound regulations as mandated under the Motor Vehicle Act.
A police official, speaking anonymously, mentioned plans to install pickets and challan offenders, promising action against trucks with boomboxes post 10 p.m.—though residents remain skeptical given the record of inaction.
The Kanwar Yatra, a Hindu religious pilgrimage, continues to receive unchecked support from the administration. Ironically, on the other hand, Azaan, the Muslim call to prayer—which lasts for just a few minutes and occurs at specific times—faces routine criticism, restrictions, and even bans in many states under the pretext of noise pollution. This blatant double standard reflects the deepening saffronisation of public spaces and the selective application of law.
“What kind of justice is this?” asked Chitra Jain of Ashoka Park. “One community is being forced into silence, while another is given free rein to disrupt the peace under the guise of religious celebration.”
With traffic congestion worsening on routes like the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, NH-9, Mathura Road, Outer Ring Road, and Aurobindo Marg, the coming days are expected to bring further chaos as the yatra reaches its peak on Sunday and Monday.
The boombox menace is not just a civic issue—it exposes the growing imbalance in law enforcement, where the voice of one religion is amplified, while another is forcibly muted.
