Silent Zones may get noisy for Ganeshotsav……..Ravikiran Deshmukh
Govt sympathises with mandals, seeks relaxation of norms but is worried about inviting HC wrath
Govt sympathises with mandals, seeks relaxation of norms but is worried about inviting HC wrath
With the city revving up for Ganeshotsav revelry, Mumbai’s silent zones are at the risk of taking the blow. The Democratic Front government appears to be sympathetic to some Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals seeking a relaxation in the norms that keep things quiet in these areas. The state administration, however, is worried that this decision will only invite the court’s ire.
A central government notification marks areas within 100 metres of courts, religious structures, educational institutions and hospitals as silent zones. The Bombay HC has banned loudspeakers after 10 pm in these zones.
While ministers want a fresh circular from the State Environment Department and the police relaxing the rule for some hours at certain sites, officials are scared that such a move will not go down well with the court, said an official, requesting anonymity, and added that the officers were also not aware of which rule they could issue such a circular under.
Some Mandals, especially those near schools, have asked for leniency after the school-day ends.
After chairing a meeting with the office-bearers of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava Mandal at Mantralaya on Monday, Jayant Patil, guardian minister for the Mumbai City District, said the government was likely to relax norms for some pandals located in silent zones.
Sources said the city police had made it clear that any change in the norm would have to be sent to the central Environment Ministry for approval, which indicated that the administration and the police were reluctant to take the step.
Patil, however, said only a handful of pandals were seeking this waiver and the government could issue a notification to this effect for them.
Meanwhile, Patil has instructed BMC to repair roads and fill up potholes especially on the procession routes. He said the city collector had been asked to declare Ananta Chathurdashi as a local holiday.
The CM has already announced a holiday on September 2, the day for Dahi Handi. He also said an immersion spot would be developed near Bandra-Worli Sea Link.