Loudspeaker deadline for Ganeshotsav in Pune extended on Friday

Pune district collector Vikas Deshmukh has allowed the extending of the 10pm deadline for the usage of the loudspeakers till midnight of September 9. This decision was taken by him after several Ganesh mandals had petitioned him last week.

After the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court in 2005 fixing the 10pm as the deadline for the usage of loudspeakers, the state government had fixed 13 specific days in the year, for increasing the deadline till midnight. Most of the days coincide with festivals of various communities.

Also, the district collector was given the power to relax the 10 pm deadline for two days in a year. During Ganesh festival, the deadline is relaxed on fifth, sixth and 11th day.

“During the peace committee meeting held in August, there was a demand from various people for relaxation of the 10pm deadline for the seventh day of the Ganesh festival. However, as three consecutive days of relaxation of the deadline could not allowed Friday was chosen for relaxation of the deadline,’’ said Deshmukh.

This relaxation would be implemented both in rural and urban parts.

“Although the deadline has been relaxed, strict instructions have been issued to Ganesh mandals not to flout permissible decibel limits,’’ he said.