Mandal members want the city's silence zone laws to be relaxed on visarjan day, to enable immersion processions to give the deity a grand, noisy farewell
Mandal members want the city's silence zone laws to be relaxed on visarjan day, to enable immersion processions to give the deity a grand, noisy farewell
As the city gears up for days of revelry during the Ganesh festival, there are those who feel that the silent zones in the city could play spoilsport and hamper festivities, especially for processions on visarjan day.
Ganesh mandals want the government to use their discretionary
powers and relax loudspeaker deadlines and silence zone laws in
various parts of the city, on the last day of immersion
Ganpati mandals want the rules of silence to be relaxed in the city's silent zones on the 10th day of the festival, to allow devotees in the visarjan processions to send off the lord with great fanfare.
According to a Union government notification, areas within 100 metres of courts, religious structures, educational institutions and hospitals are to be considered silent zones.
u00a0
The Bombay high court, too, has banned the use of loudspeakers after 10 pm in these zones.
In order to avoid getting entangled in legal loopholes, mandals want the government to use their discretionary powers and relax loudspeaker deadlines and silence zone laws in various parts of the city, on the last day of immersion.
Many mandal members have written letters to their respective associations, requesting them to raise the issue in front of respective authorities, requesting exemption from the law.
Ravindra Kashalkar, president of the Nav Maharashtra Utkarsh Mandal at Parel Naka is one of the crusaders for the relaxation of these silence zone laws He had to pay a hefty fine of Rs 5,000 last year, after devotees played music loudly at his mandal, which happens to fall within a silent zone in the city.
Speaking to MiD DAY, he said, "We have been running the mandal for 37 years, and these laws came into existence just a few years back. Is it our fault that the mandal falls in a silence zone area? Is it our fault that there are hospitals in the vicinity? We cannot imagine a Ganeshotsav without crackers and music."
u00a0
He added, "We were forced to pay a large sum as fine last year, all because the devotees were bidding their final goodbyes to our beloved Ganesha by dancing to loud music.
The visarjan revelries only last for a day. Why can't the government exempt us from this law just for a day? The residents of this area want their kids to enjoy the festivities. This is injustice for them."
In another such incident, the iconic Ganesh mandal at Shivaji Park, known for loud and boisterous celebrations during Ganesh immersions, was levied an exorbitant fine of Rs 1 lakh, and its authorities produced at the additional chief metropolitan court in Dadar (East), after devotees were found playing musical instruments while passing through a silent zone.
Naresh Dahibawker, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti said, "We have received many such complaints from mandals about the silent zones.
We have decided to put forward our demands to the Mumbai police department, which is authorised to fine mandals that flout the silent zone laws. The government should not impose laws which affect the common man's emotions and devotion."
Officialspeak
A senior official from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) said, "It takes time for mandals and devotees to accept the law.
u00a0
We want to create more awareness among the public. We are not considering the option of waiving the law for on visarjan day."
Nou00a0Noise, Please
- In silent zones: daytime
50 Db; night: 40 Db (10 pm and 6 am)
- In residential zones: daytime: 55; night: 45
- In commercial zones: day: 65; night: 60
By order
- In 2003, the Bombay high court banned use of loudspeakers and horns after 10 pm at silent zones in the city.
- In 2005, the SC banned loudspeakers and noisy firecrackers between 10 pm and 6 am, but added a clause permitting states to relax the deadline for 15 days in a year.
Did you know?
In the island city alone, there are 2,837 sarvajanik Ganesh mandals and 2,237 silent zones.
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
