High Court seeks state's reply on glare from Marine Drive gymkhana floodlights

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has asked the state government and other authorities to respond to a petition alleging that powerful floodlights and illuminated hoardings at the gymkhanas along Marine Drive are flooding the neighbourhood with glare. A bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna issued notice to the state, the municipal corporation, the pollution control boards, the police and the collector, and listed the matter for November 20.

The petitioner, South Mumbai resident Nilesh Desai, is an IT professional and astrophotographer represented by advocate Ronita Bhattacharya. He has pointed to lighting at Wilson Gymkhana and other establishments, claims the light intensity near Wilson Gymkhana reached 84,800 lux, and wants rules to control light pollution in Mumbai and Thane.

According to the petition, bright artificial light late into the night harms people's health and sleep, damages trees and wildlife, enters homes and dazzles motorists. It asks for limits on light intensity, shielded fittings and curbs on high-intensity lighting after 10 pm.

Desai says the problem has continued despite complaints since 2016. The petition cites a notice Marine Drive police served on Wilson Gymkhana's manager on October 28, 2016, and minutes of a Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee meeting on June 30, 2017, which recorded that lighting and advertising hoardings were not allowed around the Police Gymkhana ground under the Marine Drive precinct policy. He also approached the Mumbai collector in January 2018.

Sources: Loksatta; Free Press Journal