It Is Heart Of Pune, Supreme Court Puts Stay On NGT Order Of 30 People Cap On Dhol Tasha Groups During Ganeshotsav
It Is Heart Of Pune, Supreme Puts Stay On NGT Order Of 30 People Cap On Dhol Tasha Groups During Ganeshotsav
On Thursday, the Supreme Court stayed the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directive that limited the number of participants in ‘dhol-tasha’ groups to 30 during Ganesh Chaturthi. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading the bench, remarked, “Let them do ‘dhol-tasha’, it is the heart of Pune,” while passing the interim order.
The bench, including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, issued a temporary halt to the NGT’s restrictions, allowing traditional drum ensembles to perform as usual for the Ganpati idol immersion. This decision came in response to an urgent appeal against the NGT’s directive aimed at controlling noise pollution during the festival.
Ganesh Chaturthi, which began on September 7, is a major festival in Maharashtra, lasting 10 to 11 days. In Pune, ‘dhol-tasha’ groups are a vital part of the celebrations. The appeal was filed earlier in the day, stressing the need for prompt action due to the approaching visarjan on September 17.
The NGT’s ruling, issued by its Western bench, was intended to reduce the environmental impact of Ganapati immersion processions. It not only limited group sizes but also included measures such as banning DJs, displaying decibel levels publicly, and placing warning signs about the health risks of high noise levels. Additionally, there were restrictions on procession sizes.
The Supreme Court’s order allows the festive traditions to continue uninterrupted while the issue is reviewed further.
