MPCB to revise guidelines on religious festivals, weddings to control noise pollution
Last year too, the Bombay High Court had observed that religious festivals should be celebrated in a meaningful manner so that no inconvenience is caused to others.
3 min read
People celebrating Ganpati in Pune.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is revising its guidelines on religious festivals and wedding halls to control noise pollution. PK Mirashe, assistant secretary (technical), and presently holding the charge of member secretary of the Board, said that there is a need to check for breach of law or public nuisances caused by religious festivals and even at marriage halls.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Zone, Pune, had recently taken a stern view about people creating public nuisance during marriage functions and had clarified that use of DJ sets and huge crowds of people dancing around the venue of marriage cannot be treated as part of any religious function.
Last year too, the Bombay High Court had observed that religious festivals should be celebrated in a meaningful manner so that no inconvenience is caused to others.
“Standards of controlling noise and air pollution are in place. But we are now mulling to revise the guidelines to ensure stricter implementation,” Mirashe told The Indian Express.
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“For instance, at corporations, the civic chiefs should declare sensitive zones in their areas. There are designated officers appointed at the police department and corporations who can take action against offenders,” Mirashe said, adding that the MPCB would help them to monitor noise levels.
Noise has been recognised as an ambient air pollutant and the MPCB has been monitoring noise pollution at various cities during Ganesh festival and Diwali. According to Board officials, festivals like dahi handi, navratri and others would also be monitored for noise levels. “We are also waiting for instructions from the Centre to incorporate strategies on effective implementation, while revising the guidelines,” Mirashe added.
MPCB officials in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad admitted that they do receive their share of complaints – specially from societies located near and opposite industrial areas. According to noise pollution rules, the permissible noise level during the day is 50dB in silence zones and 55dB in residential areas. However, MPCB officials point out that awareness drives have helped control decibel levels to a certain extent.
Aseem Sarode, who heads the National Green Tribunal Bar Association, said that no authority responds properly to the issue of noise pollution. “We receive several complaints and guide citizens to dial 100 and register their grievances with the police. However, there has been very little response,” he rued.
“Our main demand is that the complaints should be registered and investigated following the new rules . There is a need to ensure that pollution control laws are implemented,” Sarode added.
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