Pune: Ganesh festival has ended, but the noise around its alleged violations has only grown louder.Citizens and activists from ‘Punekars Against Loudspeakers’ on Thursday accused the civic administration and police of ignoring “deafening” noise pollution during the festivities despite directives from Bombay high court and National Green Tribunal. They demanded strict accountability for permitting sound levels that allegedly exceeded legal limits, especially in the silence zones.Kalyani Mandke, a petitioner against sound pollution, said data collected by educational institutions and citizens exposed alarming levels of noise across the city. “The statutory directives were completely ignored,” she said, addressing a press conference.According to the group’s members, average sound levels during the festival were recorded at 105 decibels and above. Data from College of Engineering Pune (CoEP) reportedly showed peak noise levels reaching 115.4 dB, while Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) recorded 89.9 dB.The group said of 158 citizen complaints documenting noise pollution, 60 recorded sound levels exceeding 100 dB. The highest reading of 120 dB was reported at Vanaz Chowk and Natu Wada, with alleged violations even in hospital and silence zones.Mukund Kirdat, another member of the group, contrasted Pune’s enforcement record with that of neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad. “The Pimpri Chinchwad authorities seized sound equipment and registered 913 cases, while Pune authorities acted laxly. Elected representatives in Pune encouraged the use of loudspeakers and promoted a restriction-free festival,” he alleged.The activists announced plans to draft a comprehensive set of noise-control guidelines covering religious festivals and political rallies and demanded their strict implementation throughout the year, not just during festival seasons.
