Pune News: NGT Lays Down Rules for Ganesh Mandals, Real Time Noise Monitoring And Display Boards Must To Curb PollutionÂ
Pune News: NGT Lays Down Rules for Ganesh Mandals, Real Time Noise Monitoring And Display Boards Must To Curb Pollution
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued strict guidelines to curb noise pollution during the upcoming Ganeshotsav festivities in Maharashtra. In a landmark verdict, the NGT directed Ganesh Mandals to take measures to reduce noise levels.
The directives include displaying noise levels and limits on digital boards at two locations, including statutory warnings about the health risks of noise pollution. Additionally, real-time noise monitoring will be conducted in major squares during immersion processions.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and police will enforce these rules. The NGT’s judicial member, Dinesh Kumar Singh, and expert member, Dr. Vijay Kulkarni, delivered the verdict while disposing of a petition filed by Maitreya Ghorpade.
The guidelines also specify that the police will have discretion to relax noise limits based on location and mandal size. Furthermore, dhol-tasha-janj teams will be limited to 30 members per circle during immersion processions.
To ensure compliance, the police will prohibit tolls and DJs during immersion processions, and violators will face action under criminal law. The MPCB will publish names of rule-breakers in local newspapers within seven days after Anant Chaturdashi.
The MPCB will also publicize the notice and harmful effects of noise pollution before Ganeshotsav. “This move aims to strike a balance between religious festivities and environmental concerns,” said Dr. Kalyani Mandke, hearing expert.
By enforcing these guidelines, authorities seek to minimize noise pollution’s adverse impact on citizens’ health. The NGT’s directive marks a significant step towards promoting sustainable celebrations.
