Pune: Allegations of noise-rule violations are already surfacing across Pune, especially in silence zones, this Ganesh festival in spite of strict enforcement assurances after NGT’s latest order.National Green Tribunal (NGT) had recently reiterated that the 100-metre silence-zone norm around hospitals, educational institutions and courts must be strictly enforced, directing authorities not to permit festival pandals or processions to use amplified sound within these areas.Residents and activists, however, said loudspeakers were blaring near hospitals, decibel levels were touching 95 dB in residential pockets and processions continued to test the limits of noise regulations, raising fresh questions over on-ground enforcement.Ameet Singh, a citizen and litigant in the noise-pollution case, pointed to alleged breaches on Boat Club Road, Dole Patil Road and in Kothrud. “There are several places where the rules are simply not being followed,” Singh said, alleging that loudspeakers were being used during the afternoon on Dole Patil Road, where a Ganpati mandal had been set up in the middle of the road despite its proximity to Ruby Hall Hospital, which falls within a silence-zone area.Singh further claimed that sound levels on Boat Club Road exceeded 95 dB. “I measured more than 95 dB from inside my car with the windows closed,” he said.Vidyanand Suhas Bapat, a resident of Narayan Peth, argued that changes to the definition of silence zones have weakened enforcement. “Earlier, any educational institution, medical establishment, including clinics and courts automatically had a 100-metre periphery where loudspeakers, firecrackers and artificial noise were prohibited. Later, the provision was amended to require formal notification of a silence zone, creating a loophole,” he said.According to Bapat, the impact is visible around FC Road, where Ganesh pandals occupy portions of roads and loudspeakers continue to operate. “The biggest lacuna is that these silence zones have not been demarcated and notified. If the original definition was strictly implemented, citizens would get significant relief,” he said.Roda Mehta, a resident of Boat Club Road, said residents had to step in after one society played loud music for several days during a celebration. “Finally, we gave them a notice,” she said, adding, “Ruby Hall is next to us, Jehangir is next to us too. There are two schools in the vicinity as well.”Mehta also cited a recent immersion procession on Boat Club Road where loud DJ music continued from 5pm despite complaints. “The noise was awful. We had to complain more than once and, after a while, it was stopped,” she said, alleging that immersion processions were where people often flouted noise rules.In Sadashiv Peth, resident Amod Rahalkar said continuous noise from a religious mandal and the crowds it attracted had made normal life difficult for nearby residents. “We cannot sleep through the night. It is not just the music but also the crowds, shouting and road closures. Sometimes we have to go elsewhere to sleep,” he said.Responding to the complaints, a senior police officer said authorities had identified silence zones, circulated the list and were attempting to curb violations. “There may have been instances of breaches at certain locations, but we are trying our best to minimise the problem for citizens and ensure there is no noise pollution in these areas,” the officer said.
