Loksatta provides platform to mandals,authorities to discuss noise levels

Mandal representatives said the festival would lose its ethos if the restriction on loudspeakers after 10 pm as per Supreme Court directions continues. Members demanded the restriction to be relaxed. Pathak said,“As per the data on noise levels during festival,the noise levels of Pune have not gone down over the period. Other cities have showed a positive decline. We have to work more on reducing the noise levels and abiding by the restriction on the noise levels and timings is a must to do so.”

But Umranikar and Singhal said mandal representatives should approach political leadership if they want the restrictions to be relaxed. Singhal said,“As per SC guidelines,individual states can allow the limit to be relaxed for 15 days till midnight. For four days during the festival the limit can be relaxed. But we cannot allow the loudspeakers throughout the night at any given day.”

Mandal representatives said initiatives would be taken by individual mandals to avoid overcrowding on roads. Discussions were also held on installing CCTVs.