Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Vilas Rao Deshmukh and
Deputy Chief Minsiter Shri R R Patil,

I refer to the statement of Shri R R Patil at the
headlines of today's Loksatta which states that the
Government of Maharashtra intends to try once more to
have the Noise Rules relaxed. The Supreme Court has
already refused to allow relaxation for Ganpati and
the Police implemented these Rules more or less
successfully with the co operation of Ganpati mandals.
The exception was political stalls and processions
when political leaders were present. It is apparent
that there is a strong vested interest in favour of
noise making activities and that this vested interest
has both monetary and political components.

I believe that, in view of the present circumstances
when at last ordinary middle class people have started
to come out in larger numbers than ever before and to
speak up about their distress over the years at being
subjected to such high noise levels, the Government
would be more in line with public sentiment to defend
the Rules and find ways and means to implement them
rather than look for ways out.

We intend to continue the monitoring of noise levels
conducted by us during Ganpati at Navratri, Diwali,
Ramzan and Christmas. The readings would be compiled
and if violations occur as a result of the
irresponsible statements of the Government which
serves to incite vested interests towards disobedience
of the Supreme Court ruling, we would submit our
findings to the State Government, Union Government,
Bombay High Court and Supreme Court of India.

Yours sincerely,
Sumaira Abdulali
Awaaz Foundation
sumairaabdulali@yahoo.com