Lights out! Mumbai’s silent war on glare, and ‘killer’ billboards

Advertisements endorsements and beautification may seem appealing but their impact extends beyond mere economic concerns they also have ecological and environmental repercussions The growing use of artificial light particularly through bright billboards and floodlights results in unchecked and unintended illumination causing severe harm to all forms of life including humansConcerned about the lsquovery distractingrsquo bright digital billboards a group of NGOs wrote to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde claiming that these billboards in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are causing lsquokillerrsquo light pollution In a letter dated November 1 the collective which includes nonprofit groups like NatConnect Foundation Watchdog Foundation and Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan warned the state government about the possibility of traffic accidents caused by these eyecatching billboardsIn a twopart series midday sheds light on the escalating issue of light pollution in the city and its surrounding areas This phenomenon causes birds to migrate at the wrong time of the season deters nighttime pollinators like bats disrupts underwater ecosystems and even diminishes melatonin production in humansDr Shashi Kapoor an ophthalmologist and eye surgeonB N Kumar director of the NatConnect Foundation has now approached the traffic police and the Advertising Standards Council of India ASCI Kumar along with the other NGOs is planning to file a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against lsquolight pollutionrsquoIn response to the email complaint by the collective of NGOs the Chief Ministerrsquos Office CMO has forwarded the matter to Roads and PWD Secretary Sadashiv Salunkhe with directions to address the issue ldquoWe shall follow up using the RTI application route We have also written to ASCI and expect ASCI to bring this to the notice of its members even if it may not be in a position to take any direct actionrdquo Kumar saidWhat is light pollutionThe improper or excessive use of artificial light often referred to as lsquolight pollutionrsquo can lead to significant environmental repercussions for both humans and wildlife impacting our climate LED lighting in particular is known for its bluer and more intense illumination often accompanied by a harsh flicker whether visible or not Exposure to LED lighting poses a considerable threat to both humans and wildlifeOutdoor lighting with a high blue light content is more likely to contribute to light pollution due to its broader geographic reach compared to other lighting sources Regrettably LEDs are extensively used in outdoor lighting screens and various electronic displays leading to an abundance of blue lightFurthermore digital advertising screens also utilise this type of LED lighting exacerbating the issue of unnecessary light pollution lsquoLight pollutionrsquo refers to the overall effect of excessive and misdirected artificial lighting Currently many major countries including India do not have standards or guidelines for addressing light pollutionBattle against lsquolight pollutionrsquoIn 2016 Nilesh Desai a Mumbai resident raised objections against the giant floodlights set up by Wilson Gymkhana in front of his house complaining about the lsquonuisancersquo After a twoyearlong battle the government and Mumbai civic body ordered the removal of the lights in 2018 However this was only a temporary measure according to DesaiFor the last eight years Desai an information technology professional has been fighting against the excessive and obtrusive glare of floodlights in his neighbourhood He filed numerous complaints with state and civic authorities regarding the nuisance of light pollution along Mumbairsquos Marine Drive a scenic curved beachfront promenade Desai recounted ldquoThe situation was so bad I used to ask my children not to look outside windows as it may harm their eyes We put up thick curtains in our houses to block out the glare from floodlights installed by Wilson Gymkhana trespassing into our residenceMany in our building used blinds to block the light so they could watch television in the eveningrdquo Desai is currently dedicated to filing a public interest litigation PIL addressing the issue of light pollution highlighting how this problem arises from the excessive inappropriate and misdirected use of artificial lightingIn 2017 Sumaira Abdulali a Mumbaibased activist and the convenor of Awaaz Foundation pointed out ldquoUnlike air noise and water pollution people often do not consider light pollution a significant issue or an issue at all Sadly there are no existing laws or guidelines to regulate light pollution Light pollution can be distracting for drivers motorists and disrupt peoplersquos sleep patternsrdquo She emphasised the urgent need for the BMC and the state government to establish standards for the installation of billboards and the use of lighting to address this issue promptlyAccording to Abdulali many countries and cities worldwide have standards for lighting and implement lsquodark sky areasrsquo where bright artificial lights are prohibited Some of these areas are visited for stargazing She said ldquoIt is a known fact that bright lighting and the pollution caused by it disrupt patterns and can be harmful to the ecosystem But while there is a policy for national parks in India we do not have guidelines on lighting and restrictions or standards to prevent light pollutionrsquoImpact on ecosystem Scientists worldwide say that peoplersquos sleep could be impaired as a result of artificial lights which would be detrimental to human health and wellbeingAccording to lsquoBuglifersquo The Invertebrate Conservation Trust a Europebased organisation dedicated to conservation education and policy change to protect insects artificial light affects mating feeding navigation and development for example in moths Light pollution directly contributes to the decline of many insect species According to DarkSky International a group of over 2000 volunteer advocates worldwide that protect the night sky using education advocacy retrofits and community science light pollution affects migratory birds by disrupting their natural movement patterns or causing them to mate too early leading to declining populations Artificial light can cause nocturnal birds to wander off course and become exposed to dangerWhat experts sayA research article titled lsquoStudying Light Pollution as an Emerging Environmental Concern in Indiarsquo published in the Journal of Urban Management in September 2022 was authored by Komal Kaushik Soumya Nair and Arif Ahamad from Daulat Ram College University of DelhiThe research article reveals ldquoA study conducted from January 2019 showed a consistent increase in outdoor lighting over the past two decades and the adverse effects it has been inflicting on various regions of India New Delhi Telangana Maharashtra Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have reported high levels of light pollution with a further escalation observed from 1993 to 2013rdquoIt also highlights ldquoThe influx of urban populations and changes in lifestyles have led to the heightened utilization of various lighting systems in our cities to the extent that some cities such as Mumbai and New York City have earned the moniker lsquothe cities that never sleeprsquo While this may contribute significantly to the economy it has resulted in a greater harmmdashlight pollutionmdashwith little to no public awarenessrdquoDr Shashi Kapoor an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon said ldquoLED lights laser shows and excessive bright lights are detrimental to the eyes There are numerous theories suggesting that exposure to bright and excessive lights can disrupt sleep patterns mood and metabolism In addition to these harmful effects excessive light penetrating residential areas constitutes an intrusion of privacy Therefore guidelines and parameters are needed to determine the permissible brightness levels in lighting and the types of lasers allowed in laser showsrdquo