Set pandal guidelines, directs HC …..Hetal Vyas
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to chalk out a plan for quieter celebrations for festivals like Ganpati, Navratri, Dahi Handi, Eid, Diwali etc.
Festivals must be celebrated, but without causing inconvenience to other public. Implementation of rules governing noise pollution is not possible without involving the public, especially during festivals, observed justice Ranjana Desai.
The observations were made during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Thane resident, Dr Mahesh Bedekar. The PIL sought that noise pollution norms should be strictly implemented, especially in silence zones near hospitals, schools, courts and religious places. Dr Bedekar has runs a hospital at Thane. The petition stated that Naupada, where Dr Bedekar’s hospital is situated, also has a school.
A division bench of Justice Desai and Justice R V More has directed the additional chief secretary to constitute a committee comprising Thane municipal commissioner, Thane commissioner of police, registered pandals, the petitioner, respectable citizens and mohalla committees. The committee will chalk out a plan to celebrate festivals without causing noise pollution and inconvenience to the public. The court has also directed the corporation and the police to come up with guidelines on whom to give permission for setting up pandals.
The petitioner pointed out that the corporation and police grant random permissions for pandals on roads and footpaths, which leads to chaos.
The court has asked the government to file detailed affidavit in four weeks.