Hey there, folks! So, it looks like the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Western Bench in Pune is cracking down on noise pollution during this year’s Ganpati festival. The NGT has directed the Pune Police and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to keep a close eye on noise levels to comply with the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
In response, the MPCB has wasted no time in setting up a noise monitoring system at over 200 locations in Pune in just six days. The Pune Police will be working closely with them, and Zonal-level DCPs will have direct responsibility for monitoring noise levels.
According to the rules in Maharashtra, noise levels in commercial areas should not exceed 65 decibels during the day and 55 decibels at night. In residential areas with Ganpati pandals, the noise level is capped at 55 decibels.
But hold on a second! Punekar News did some digging and found out that noise levels in regular office settings can already be higher than 45 decibels. And on the streets, it’s not uncommon for noise to go over 70 decibels. Near pandals with just a bit of music, it can even hit 80 decibels.
So, meeting the NGT’s noise limits during the festival might be a tough nut to crack. People are now calling for a review of the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, arguing that the current limits are unrealistic in today’s urban environment. During Ganpati processions and the final Visarjan, noise levels are expected to soar past 100 decibels, which makes it almost impossible to stick to the prescribed limits.
There’s a growing belief that it’s high time for the government and the NGT to take another look at the noise pollution regulations. By updating them to reflect the changing landscape of cities and festive celebrations, people might have a better shot at following the rules and not just having them gather dust on a shelf.
Looks like it’s time for a noise check, Pune! Stay tuned for more updates on this hot topic.
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