Pune: Ganapati and dahi handi mandals in the city on Thursday voluntarily agreed to reduce noise pollution during the festivities by limiting the use of sound systems to a maximum of four top and four base speakers, in compliance with prescribed decibel limits.All mandals also agreed not to use plasma speakers or laser lights during the festivities, Pune commissioner of police (CP) Amitesh Kumar said at a coordination meeting with representatives of Ganapati and dahi handi mandals ahead of the festivals.Welcoming the move, Kumar said the change was necessary to control noise pollution in the city.“Before suggesting four top speakers and four base speakers to the mandals, we did all permutations and combinations. We tried eight top speakers and eight base speakers, as well as six top speakers and six base speakers. But their sound levels were well above the prescribed decibel limits,” Kumar said.The CP also assured mandal representatives that they would receive the required permissions within 24 hours of applying. “Mandals will get sound permission on the day of the immersion procession and the next day — Sept 25 and 26,” Kumar said.He said loudspeakers would be permitted until midnight on five days during Ganeshotsav — Sept 19, 20, 22, 23 and 25.The police chief said six groups had used plasma speakers during a recent festival despite an appeal from the police. Immediately after the festival, they moved the speakers outside the city.“We traced the speakers to Hubli in Karnataka and other locations and seized them. We never wished, nor is it our intention, to register cases. People should follow the rules,” Kumar added.Mandal representatives raised concerns with the police about abandoned vehicles, traffic, potholes and difficulties in obtaining permissions for streetlights.Addressing these concerns, Kumar instructed officers in charge of all police stations to take a proactive approach. He told them to visit mandals in their respective jurisdictions, understand their concerns and take steps to resolve them before the festive season begins.“The traffic department should immediately resolve the issue of abandoned vehicles on the streets in the city,” Kumar said.Kumar also appealed to mandal representatives to take action against drug use even after the festival ends.
