This Ganeshotsav, Go Traditional To Reduce Noise Pollution
No one has to dig deep to know when a religious-cultural celebration becomes noise pollution; it has been well documented and judicially affirmed since the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules were brought into effect in the year 2000. It does not need a fresh debate every year in the run-up to and during the ten-day Ganeshotsav in major cities of Maharashtra, and, likewise, for other…
During the ten-day Ganeshotsav festival in major cities of Maharashtra, excessive noise pollution caused by loudspeaker-DJ sets and Dolby sound systems has become a significant concern. Despite judicial affirmations and legal regulations since 2000 through the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, the situation remains unresolved each year.
Punekars have marched to pressurize the local administration to enforce these rules, particularly in relation to the Eardrum-splitting noise from loudspeaker-DJ sets and Dolby sound systems. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged the severity of the issue, calling it "like an earthquake." However, he now faces the true test of his decision by applying the Noise Rules and restricting the use of high-decibel sound systems during the festival.
Government agencies are urged to build a consensus on implementing these restrictions, as the existing rules set clear boundaries for noise levels during festivals. Fadnavis' government previously issued a ban in Mumbai and Nagpur under Section 163 of the BNSS, covering various festivals from September to November, without building a consensus.
The breakdown of law and order in Maharashtra's cultural capital is evident when considering the attacks on citizens advocating for noise rule enforcement. The demand for applying the Noise Rules, which permit standard sound levels in residential zones, is met with distressing decibel levels emitted by DJ-Dolby systems, causing health concerns and medical emergencies.
Recent studies recorded peak decibel levels of 109-111 during Pune's Ganpati immersion processions. To address this issue, Pune can embrace traditional celebrations with the dhol-tasha, demonstrating a commitment to noise pollution regulations.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
