Bombay HC noise ruling likely to impact mandals

Mumbai: The Bombay high court’s Thursday directives refusing relaxation in noise pollution rules during festivities is likely to affect nearly 90 per cent Ganesh mandals in the city. The ruling will have adverse impact on various factors aartis, playing of instruments, announcements and crowd control, said mandal authorities.

The court on Thursday said that the state government cannot give any relaxation in noise pollution rules during festivities such as Ganpati and Navratri. The state government cannot take ‘any adverse decision’ going against the judgment of the high court that says no loudspeaker or other sound amplifier can be used in a silence zone at any hour of the day, it said.

An official of the Brihanmumbai Sarva-janik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS) —  an umbrella organization of city Ganesh mandals —  said, “We used to celebrate the festival by maintaining the noise levels up to 40 to 50 decibels. However, by refusing the relax noise pollution rules, the HC has banned the use of loudspeakers. It will have impact on aartis and playing of traditional instruments. The crowd control is also an important part of Ganeshotsav. But without loudspeakers, it will prove difficult to manage the crowd.”

Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the BSGSS, said, “We have taken a wait and watch stand and have pinned our hopes on the state government to find a solution on this.”