Citizens’ movement for DJ-, Dolby-free celebrations gains strength in Pune

During the event on September 14, Union minister Nitin Gadkari was informed about the aims of this initiative and the need to check noise pollution. Apart from Gokhale, members of Kalaawant Trust and a large number of Kalaawant Pathak’s dhol tasha performers were present at the event.

In just a day, the campaign has collected more than 3,000 signatures, online and offline.

Kalaawant Trust, which has a popular dhol tasha group, is culturally active in Pune and a part of socially important initiatives, from blood donation camps to music concerts. A well-known actor, Gokhale has called for the public to show support for the initiative by adding their signatures.

Gokhale adds that the campaign aims to raise awareness among different segments of society about the damaging effects of noise pollution, including those produced by DJs and Dolby sound systems as a part of religious festivals, public celebrations and processions.

“We will present a memorandum on this issue to the chief minister,” Gokhale said. The campaign has been designed in a way that it is not limited to a group but involves all sections of people in Pune. “We would like citizens to participate directly in the process,” said Gokhale.

Dr Padmakar Pandit, a retired professor from a government medical college, told The Indian Express that these days, processions on busy roads not only cause traffic jams “that eat into our precious time and expose us more to vehicle waste pollution, but also attack our eyes and ears”.

“Many of these mass celebrations on the roads use frighteningly high-decibel DJ systems that injure hearing temporarily or permanently. Some at night use extremely bright lights, including lasers, that affect vision,” Pandit said, adding that such processions are troublesome not only for those travelling by but also to nearby residents.

“There are several children and the elderly who are affected by these road-blocking crowds. There should be appropriate awareness about this social nuisance, and it needs to be curtailed using effective means. This is not about any particular function or festival of any specific caste, religion or party, group. Whoever is doing it for whatever purpose must understand that it is a social problem. Let us all decide to minimise it to zero,” he added.