After receiving a flurry of complaints from residents about noise pollution caused by numerous dhol-tasha troupes, practising for the upcoming Ganeshotsav, at several lawns off the Mhatre Bridge in Kothrud, officials issued notices to lawn owners asking them not to allow more than one troupe on the premises
The owners were even asked to restrict the practice time between 6 pm and 8 pm.
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‘Won’t budge’
Police commissioner Gulabrao Pol, whom representatives from several Ganpati mandals met to protest against the notices, made it clear that dhol-tasha troupes should not flout decibel norms fixed by the Supreme Court. u00a0As per the complaints, the troupes were conducting rehearsals at lawns and marriage halls located alongside of the Mhatre Bridge and would practice till late night.u00a0
“The control room and the local police station received several complaints from senior citizens and students about noise pollution caused by their practice sessions,’ Pol said, adding that he personally received several calls from the residents following which decision was taken to issue the notices.
Pol said several NGOs and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) have been closely monitoring the developments related to the issue, adding that he did not intend to spoil the celebrations but was following the directives issued by the apex court.u00a0