Pune: Police commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Wednesday warned that strict action would be taken against both Ganapati mandals and dhol-tasha troupes if they were found violating prescribed noise limits during Friday’s immersion procession.“If the decibel level of dhol-tasha troupes exceeds the permissible limits, we will file cases against them too,” the Pune CP said.Police will monitor noise levels at 120 locations along the immersion route, with a permanent noise-monitoring station set up at Alka Talkies Chowk. “Dedicated teams will continuously track decibel levels throughout the procession. Mandals have been permitted to use a maximum of four top speakers and four bass speakers. If a mandal uses more speakers than permitted, we will seize the entire sound system,” Kumar said.Police will also strictly enforce the ban on plasma speakers, mid-pressure speakers and toll instruments. “While there is no cap on the number of dhols, tashas or troupe members, action will be taken if noise levels breach prescribed limits,” the Pune CP said.21 cases in Pune, 50 in Pimpri ChinchwadDuring the ongoing Ganesh festival, Pune police have already registered 21 cases against mandals for violating noise pollution norms. In Pimpri Chinchwad, police have registered 50 FIRs against Ganesh mandals and sound system suppliers for exceeding permissible decibel limits.As part of the action, Pimpri Chinchwad police seized loudspeakers, mixers and vehicles from 40 mandals found violating noise regulations. Ahead of the festival, Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioner Vinoy Kumar Choubey and other senior officers held meetings with Ganesh mandal office-bearers, directing them to strictly adhere to prescribed sound limits.
Shirgaon police seize sound system for exceeding decibel limits
“Several mandals complied with the guidelines and refrained from playing loud music during processions. Action was taken only against those found violating permissible noise levels,” a police officer said.Many areas in Pimpri Chinchwad immerse Ganesh idols on the seventh day of the festival. Processions were held on Sept 20 in Sangvi, Dighi, Shirgaon, Talegaon and other localities. Police teams were deployed along immersion routes to monitor noise levels and initiate action against errant mandals and sound suppliers.Monitoring via centralised systemPune police said the entire immersion procession would be monitored through a centralised system at Shivajinagar police headquarters, supported by a dedicated war room at Faraskhana police station.Around 3,500 CCTV cameras, aided by AI-based video analytics, will be used for crowd monitoring, people counting, detection of suspicious activities, abandoned objects, violence, smoke and weapons. The system will also feature facial recognition, intelligent video search and incident detection tools.Police will also deploy an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)-based system to detect traffic violations like wrong-way driving, triple-seat riding, illegal parking, footpath encroachment and speeding. An IP-based public address system at 250 locations will be used for announcements, crowd management and emergency communication.Five mobile surveillance vehicles and 19 mini-surveillance vehicles equipped with HD cameras, AI analytics and public address systems will be stationed across the old city.Drone surveillance will supplement CCTV feeds from Metro stations, Pune Municipal Corporation cameras and Ganapati mandals. Police will also track mandals in real time through GPS devices installed on procession units.More than 10,000 police personnel, home guards, SRPF jawans and other security staff will be deployed for bandobust duty on Friday and Saturday, Pune CP Kumar said.
