Ganpati a month away. Here’s all you need to know about noise rules, mandals’ demands and state’s stand

With Ganpati festival is a month away, the high court has warned police against tweaking noise rules.

Here are the set of rules, what is being demanded and what is being done:

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

The Environment Protection Act, 1986 and Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 ban the use of loudspeakers or a public address system between 10pm and 6am. The state government can extend the time limit up to midnight for 15 days a year

Ganeshotsav (4 days)

Navratri: Ashtami and Navami (2 days)

Christmas

Diwali: Dhanteras and Laxmi pujan (2 days)

Eid-e-milad

Shiv Jayanti

Dr Ambedkar Jayanti

The remaining three days are reserved by the government for what they deem fit

PENALTY

Flouting the norm can lead to:

Imprisonment for up to 5 years

Fine of Rs1 lakh

If the offence is repeated frequently, the authorities can impose a fine of Rs5,000 a day

LAST YEAR’s HC ORDER BANNED

Use of loudspeakers in silence zones

Use of drums

Bowing horns, trumpets

Playing music using sound amplifiers

WHAT’S THE PLAN FOR THIS YEAR’S FESTIVALS

The state government may dilute noise norms for Ganeshotsav and dahi handi this year

Members of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), the umbrella body of Ganesh mandals in the city, said Fadnavis has promised there won’t be restrictions this year

Organisers’ demand:

Allow us to use loudspeakers in silence zones

Raise the height of human pyramids for dahi handi (currently restricted to 20ft)

Reduce the radius of silence zone from 100m to 10m

Organisers’ claims

The state has requested the Centre to look into the matter

If they fail to make changes, the CM has promised an ordinance to dilute noise norms will be issued by the state environment department

WHAT THE CM TWEETED LAST YEAR

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis last year requested the Union environment ministry last year to let the district collectors decide on the 15 days for which noise rules can be relaxed

“Currently, relaxation for 15 days in a year is given for noise limit. Government of Maharashtra requested environment minister Anil Dave to consider districts as a unit instead of the state and empower collectors to take a call,” the chief minister’s office had tweeted

WHAT THE HC SAID ON THURSDAY

The Bombay high court on Thursday cautioned the state government against any relaxation in noise pollution rules during festivities like Ganpati and Navratri

A division bench of justice Abhay Oka and justice Vibha Kankanwadi said the state government cannot take “any adverse decision” – 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.

The court directed the state to issue directions to all planning authorities across the state to incorporate the conditions – of adhering to provisions of the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000 – while granting permissions.